Sivright, Kathleen Rae 1946-2012

SIVRIGHT, HUNGATE, HOEHN, MUILENBURG

Posted By: Ruth Maring - VOLUNTEER
Date: 2/2/2012 at 13:28:41

Kathleen R. Sivright, 65, of Clinton, died Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa.

A service in celebration of her life will be held at 11:00am, Friday, January 13, 2012 at the First Congregational Church, Clinton. Visitation will be from 10:00am to the service time at the church. Burial will follow in the Springdale Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Dwight Royer, David Yochum, Al Reynolds, Gary Landau, Jason Hungate, Mark Hungate, Rusty Hammond, and Chad Huff. The Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory is assisting the family.

Kathleen Rae Hungate was born on October 14, 1946 in Great Bend, Kansas, the daughter of Myron and Gladys (Koehn) Hungate. She graduated from Larned High School in 1964, where she was the Homecoming Queen her senior year. She then received her Bachelor’s Degree in education at Kansas State Teachers College at Emporia. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. She married David H. Sivright, Jr. on January 28, 1968 in Larned, Kansas. They moved to Clinton in 1969 where they shared the joy of raising their family.

Kathleen was a special education teacher at Baldwin Elementary School in Clinton, and later was an assistant in the daycare center at Lincoln Alternative High School. She and her husband were certified foster parents and also cared for many newborn infants awaiting private adoptive placement.

Kathleen was an active member of the First Congregational Church, co-managing the prayer chain, serving for many years as the co-superintendent of the Sunday school, and serving on the Board of Christian Education. In recent years, she was active as the handler of Kelsie, her golden retriever that obtained TDI certification as a therapy dog. She and Kelsie visited local nursing homes, assisted living centers, the chemotherapy units at Medical Associates and Mercy Medical Center, and the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. She was a volunteer at the Clinton Humane Society animal shelter. Kathleen was a type one diabetic and was active in a Quad Cities diabetic support group. She enjoyed counted-cross stitch and was an avid knitter who delighted in teaching her granddaughter Kate to knit. She loved to bake Christmas cookies and candies to be shared with friends and the staff and attorneys at the Clinton County Courthouse.

Kathleen loved spending time with family, especially her grandchildren, and with the family’s dogs, Reggie and Kelsie. She was a devoted care giver for her mother, who died at age 98 last August. Her faith and positive attitude during her courageous battle with cancer and her recent physical challenges were an inspiration to all who knew her. Although at heart a shy person, she was always willing to give of herself, readily sharing smiles and giving support to those in need.

Kathleen is survived and lovingly remembered by her husband: David of Clinton; one son: Chris Sivright of Camanche; one daughter: Lora (Matt) Muilenburg of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; four grandchildren: Kate & John Muilenburg and Anna & Audrie Sivright, her sister-in-law: Bev Hungate, and her nieces, nephews, and their spouses and children.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents and a brother: Jay Hungate.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church, Clinton, Iowa, or the American Cancer Society.