Kathryn F. Gatchel

GARNER – Kathryn F. Gatchel, 89, of Garner, died Friday, April 28, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, May 2nd at the United Methodist Church in Garner with Rev. Paul Evans officiating. A private family burial will be at Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Monday May 1st in the sanctuary at the United Methodist Church in Garner and will resume one hour prior to funeral services at the church. Cataldo Funeral Home, Garner is in charge of arrangements.

Kathryn F. Gatchel, the daughter of Elmer and Fern (McClure) Raw, was born October 28, 1927 in Rock Valley, Iowa. She graduated from Garner High School in 1946. After high school, she worked at Blank Drug Store and Elling Insurance, both in Garner. On August 29, 1947, she was married to James Gatchel at the Methodist Church in Garner. The couple lived in Garner where they raised their family. After the children were raised, Kathryn worked as a licensed insurance agent and secretary at the family business, Jim Gatchel Insurance Agency. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family. She also enjoyed golfing, watching birds, planting flowers and “digging in the dirt”. At any given time, she could be found watching the MN Twins, MN Vikings, Iowa Hawkeyes, and sports in general from her favorite chair.

She was a member of the Garner United Methodist Church, UMW, and was a fifty-year member of P.E.O Chapter FN. Kathryn was also proud to have been the first female president of the Garner Chamber of Commerce.

Kathryn is survived by her husband, Jim, of Garner; four children, Mary (Bob) Sniezek of Garner, Luann (Randy) Smit of Garner, David Gatchel (Stephen Waugh) of Des Moines, and Carol (Bill) McClintock of Owatonna, MN; seven grandchildren, Laura Moore, Abby Moore, Nathan Sniezek (special friend Drew Norton), Jerrod Smit (fiancée Lauren Andress), Kyrstin (Luke) Selvik, Lindsay McClintock, and Grace McClintock; seven step-grandchildren; three great- grandchildren, Ayren, Ava and Madison; a sister, Norma (Roger) Collier of Clarion; a sister-in-law, Jan Raw of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Gretta Raw; and two brothers, Bill Raw and Richard E. Raw.