Gruening, Katharine Nadine Laughery (1937-2023)

GRUENING, LAUGHERY, LAFRENZ

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 3/11/2023 at 14:39:37

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, February 15, 2023/Ames Monument & Cremation Center, Ames, Iowa website

On December 15, 1937, Wayne & Opal Laughery received the greatest gift ... the birth of a lovely daughter, Katharine Nadine. She grew up on a farm near Guthrie Center, IA as an only child, but was surrounded by family & friends too numerous to mention. She loved living on the family farm, riding her pony & doing tomboy things, and attending a one room schoolhouse (Seeley Township #5) about a mile away (to which she walked everyday, the pony was too stubborn to take her). She graduated from Guthrie Center High School and attended college at Upper Iowa University where she graduated with a Master's Degree in Education.

After college she moved to California where she lived and taught PE, but her Iowa roots called her back and she eventually settled in Webster City, where she continued teaching. She met her future husband, Jack Gruening, after she tried to set him up with a good friend but he was more interested in her. They were married in 1967 and lived on a beautiful farm where she was an instrumental partner in raising livestock and growing corn & soybeans. They had two children, Elizabeth and Jim, who Katie inspired with her kindness, patience, endless energy, ability to do anything (including drive combines or lead meetings), and her love of horses and motorcycles. She was the very best mom, attending and helping with all of her kid's activities, and also gave of her time helping with the 4-H Club, Clarion School Board, as well as various church committees. She treasured spending time with family, loved to read, travel, play golf or cards, visit with friends, and ride her motorcycle.

After several decades on the farm, Jack & Katie moved to Ames where she served as a volunteer at One Heart Equestrian Therapy and on the bell choir at Collegiate United Methodist Church. Perhaps her biggest role in retirement was as a loving and supportive grandma to her four adoring grandchildren. She helped with them as babies, cheered for them at all of their events, and was always enthusiastic about their various endeavors.

Katie, or Katharine if you're from Guthrie Center, will be deeply missed by her husband of 55 years, Jack Gruening of Ames; daughter Elizabeth LaFrenz (Mark) of Minneapolis; son Jim Gruening (Susan) of Ankeny; grandchildren Jack Gruening of Des Moines, Peyton LaFrenz of New York, Mary Kate Gruening of Chicago, Piper LaFrenz of Minneapolis; and many other friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers. Graveside services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Katie's memory may be made to One Heart Equestrian Therapy of Ames.