TAMA-Kathleen G. "Pete" Werner nee Jochims, 83, of Tama passed away Friday, January 14, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Thomas Dowling officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 17 from 4 to 7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Kathleen was born on December 21, 1927 in rural Poweshiek County the daughter of Ernest and Eda (Graff) Jochims. She was baptized into the Lutheran faith and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Tama. She attended rural school and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1944. On February 16, 1946 she was united in marriage to Melroy E. Werner at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama. They lived in Tama for their entire married life together. She worked at the Tama paper mill in the filler factory. She and Melroy ran the VFW Canteen and she later worked at the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel until her retirement. Kathleen was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, and the women's circle at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama. Kathleen, known at Pete to all those close to her enjoyed her friends and family.
Preceding her in death were her parents; husband; a son, Jerry Edward Werner; two sisters, Dorothy Smith and Alice Land; and one brother, Clifford Jochims.
Survivors include her son Charles (Ginger) Werner of Chelsea; two daughters Barbara (Joseph) Imhoff of Dwight, IL and Penny Mathes of Tama; eight grandchildren, Eric (Michele) Werner of Toledo, Clint (Kathy) Werner of Chelsea, Brent (Carrie) Imhoff of Valley Park, MO, Darin (Michelle) Imhoff of Dwight, IL, Tori Mathes, Derek Mathes, and Trudi Mathes all of Tama, and Jeri Lee (Shane) Buckner of Ashville, NC of; 27 great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Lauretta Quigley of Toledo and Mary Ann Werner of Cedar Rapids.
A memorial fund has been established.