Catherine B. "Kay" (White) Thier 1918-2008

THEIR, WHITE, BELL, GOERDT, TOBIN, LUDWIG, PALMER, MCBRIDE, HOLZER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 1/3/2016 at 11:48:53

DYERSVILLE, Iowa - Catherine B. "Kay" Thier, 90, of Dyersville, died Thursday, May 15, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville, after a brief illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 19, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with the Rev. Phil Kruse and the Rev. Herb Tegeler concelebrating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 18, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where a Catholic Daughters of America rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. and a parish scripture service will be at 5 p.m.

She was born on March 16, 1918, in Farley, daughter of Julius and Genevieve (Bell) White. She grew up on a farm east of Farley, graduated from St. Joseph High School in Farley and continued her education to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

While teaching at the one-room country school, she met her future husband. She married Arthur J. "Art" Thier on June 9, 1945, in Farley; he preceded her in death in 1992.

While raising her family, she continued going to school to become a physical education teacher. During this time, she was contacted by Monsignor M.M. Hoffman about establishing a library in the Dyersville community. She was a 50-year library board member.

Kay enjoyed many activities in the community, entertaining visitors at the Dyers House Teas as Mrs. Dyer, reading stories to children at the library and being the Hat Lady.

She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish and a charter member of its Resurrection Choir, the Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Rose, the Red Hat Ladies, Friends of the Library and the Dyersville Historical Society.

Kay was named Woman of the Year by the Dyersville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2002, and she twice received the Governor's Volunteerism Award, most recently in 2007.

Surviving are her three children, Dennis (Diane) Thier, Carol (Dr. Earl) Goerdt and Ben (Krista) Thier, all of Dyersville, 11 grandchildren, Chad Thier, of Dubuque, Abby (Tom) Cecil, of Leonardtown, Md., Emily (Craig) Tobin, of Marion, Tony (Anna) Thier, of Dubuque, Amy (Brad) Ludwig, of Cascade, Matt (Kathy) Goerdt, of Dyersville, Joe Goerdt, of Chicago, Kim Goerdt, Brent, Olivia and Thomas Thier, all of Dyersville; nine great-grandchildren, Elise, Adam and Nick Cecil, Isabel Tobin, Sophia Thier, Madeline, Julia and Luke Ludwig, and Rebecca Goerdt; a sister, Mary Palmer, of Farley, three sisters-in-law, Julia White, of Dubuque, Marie Thier and Kay Thier, both of Dyersville; and two brothers-in-law, Harry McBride, of Anamosa and Joe (Delores) Thier, of Dyersville.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Kenneth White; two sisters, Alice (Merlin) Holzer and Madonna McBride; three brothers-in-law, Carl "Chick" Palmer, Jim Thier and August "Gus" Thier; and a sister-in-law, Germaine (Bill) Mescher.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Saturday, May 17, 2008