TAMA-Kathryn Louise Willaby, age 81, a resident of Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama, died Saturday, January 10, 2009, at the care center under the care of Grinnell Regional Hospice following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Interment will follow at Haven Cemetery, rural Tama. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 13 from 4 to 7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Kathryn was born on September 30, 1927 in Haven, the daughter of Wayne and Lena (Klenk) McGrew. She grew up on the family farm near Haven. Kathryn graduated from Tama High School at the age of sixteen in 1943. She then attended and graduated from American Institute of Business. Kathryn then worked for the Board of Education in Des Moines. She was united in marriage to Irven M. Willaby on January 1, 1947 at her parents' home. Following marriage they briefly lived in Madrid, Iowa before moving to their farm east of Haven in 1948. Kathryn then worked as a homemaker, raising their four children. She loved her family and was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wayne and Lena McGrew; husband, Irven on May 5, 2000; a daughter, Charyn; and a brother Wesley McGrew.
Survivors include her children, Craig (Kristine) Willaby of Tama; Cheryl (Dave) McClurg of Newton, Joel (Mary) Willaby of Chelsea, and Kevin (Charlene) Willaby of Toledo; eleven grandchildren, Katheryn (Nathan) McBurney, Kristin (Steven) Huyser, and Kallie Willaby, Elizabeth, Christopher, and Benjamin McClurg, Justin Willaby, and Kasey (Scott) Herbers, Jennifer (Jason) Barnes, Shelly (Jim) Lehrke, and Mindy (Clint) Dickason; seven great grandchildren, Sully and Livie Herbers, Zach and Wes Barnes, Ethan and Avery Lehrke, and Grace Dickason.
A memorial fund has been established.