Katherine White

Katherine "Kate" White age 84 of Alta Vista, IA, died Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at her home. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021, at Hugeback - Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service following the visitation with Rev. Jerry Kopacek officiating. A public luncheon will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Alta Vista VFW. Interment will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 1, 2021, at Calvary Cemetery, Alta Vista with Brody Boss, Kelly Boss, Tricia Parker, Miranda Smith, Chris White, and Alexa Chihak serving as pallbearers. Katherine was born on Jan. 16, 1937, to Clarence and Geneva (Jacoby) Gansen in Elma. She was one of the Gansen’s seven children and grew up on a farm 2 ½ miles northeast of Elma, where she helped milk cows, baled hay, and loved swinging in the haymow. Katherine began her education in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Immaculate Conception Catholic School. After high school, Katherine fell in love with Daniel White, and the two were married and began a family that grew to include Laurie, John, Jerry, Kim, and Andy. Katherine and Daniel began their married life in Waterloo, where Katherine worked as a secretary at St. Francis Hospital. They later moved to New Haven and then to Alta Vista, where Daniel held numerous jobs and Katherine worked as a cook at St. Williams School and also worked at the Alta Vista Bank and Alta Vista Post Office. When Daniel passed away in 1993, Katherine raised her two youngest children by herself. Kim and Andy almost represented a second “family” for Katherine, as Kim was 20 years younger and Andy was 24 years younger than White’s first child. To put it simply, Katherine loved life and learning; she was the epitome of a lifelong learner, and she was not only a loving mother but an adoring grandmother to her seven grandchildren and her 10 great-grandchildren. She loved spending time with them - playing board and card games and flying kites with them. She also was an excellent cook and baker. Katherine also loved being out in nature. She loved to hunt for wild asparagus, and there was no better way for her to start her day than seeing a beautiful sunrise and no better way to end it than witnessing a stunning sunset. Her home was filled with love - for her children, her grandchildren, and her “greats” - and she will be missed by those who knew that Katherine’s most precious gift to them was her time. Katherine is survived by her children, Laurie Boss of Gilbert, AZ, John (Ann) White of Kansas City, MO, Jerry (Lisa) White of Kearney, MO, Kim (John Barron) White of Cedar Rapids, IA, Andy White of Alta Vista, IA; six grandchildren, Brody Boss, Kelly (April) Boss, Tricia (Sam) Parker, Miranda (Brock) Smith, Chris (Sarah) White, Alexa Chihak, Jerry Krulic; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Gerald (Marge) Gansen of Riceville, IA; two sisters, Norma (Ken) Kolbet of Apple River, IL, Jeannette (Brian) Glaser of Gracemore, MO. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Daniel in 1993; sister, Mary Finely; two brothers, Nick and Joe Gansen.