Tjossem, Kathryn Marie (White) 1929-2005

TJOSSEM, WHITE, BRYANT, RUEN, MYCHAJLYSZYN, WELLS, COOPER, MARDOCK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/8/2012 at 12:15:12

Kathryn White Tjossem, age 75, of Decorah, died Thursday, April 28, 2005 at Barthell Eastern Star Home in Decorah following a sudden illness.

Funeral Services will be held at 2 P.M. Monday, May 2, 2005 at Hesper Friends Church in Hesper, Iowa, by Rev. Keith Mardock, with burial in Hesper Public Cemetery.

There will be no visitation. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer's disease research or Helping Services of Northeast Iowa.

Kathryn Marie White Tjossem was born on August 27, 1929, in Harmony, Minnesota, to Bernard and Ruth (Bryant) White. She graduated from Harmony High School in 1947, where she enjoyed music and drama. Kathryn obtained a teaching certificate from William Penn College and taught school in Frankville, Iowa.

On January 25, 1950, she married Lawrence Tjossem, and to this union four children were born: Judith, Cynthia, Gregory, and Steven.

Kathryn was a lifelong member of Hesper Friends Church, where for many years she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School; she was active in the United Society of Friends Women. She served the wider community as a volunteer in the hospital auxiliary as well as in a tutoring program for Vietnamese immigrants. Concerned about the welfare of abused women, she was an early volunteer in the local Decorah program for them, offering her home as a safe house.

Kathryn valued being a part of the West Side Study Club, and on a personal level enjoyed music, reading, and quilting. However, it was to her family that she devoted most of her love and concern and from which she received her greatest joy and satisfaction. One of her endearing qualities was her gentle sense of humor and infectious laughter.

Kathryn is survived by Lawrence, her devoted husband of fifty-five years; daughters Judy (Ron Ruen) and Cindy (Roman Mychajlyszyn); sons Greg (Karen) and Steve (Kari); grandchildren Shaun (Jill), Logan (Kari), Kirsten, Andrew, and Tanner; great grandchildren Rylee and Carley; sisters Theresa Wells, Bunni (Marv) Cooper, and Myrna (Keith) Mardock.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in-law, Ed Wells, Sr.

Kathryn's family is grateful for the loving care she received while at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home.

Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Hesper Public cemetery
 

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