Thank you Scott. (This was sent to Kate's oldest son before she passed.)
I am thinking of her and family a lot these days.
I was close to Kate through junior high and high school.
I remember baking her a 4 layer birthday cake, each layer a different color, decorated as a white and yellow daisy, which was her favorite back then.
I remember the day Roger Nunn said, “I think I have the perfect guy for Kate.” Which turned into Richard and Kate Rose for 51+ years. ❤️
I remember her mom, Dorothea.
I remember tickling Kate as we walked through the hall in the house on 54th Street and we fell against the wall with such force that we broke through the Sheetrock! Dorothea could not believe it.
I remember sleeping over night one time and Kate really wanted an "EMBURGER." So she took the car and we went to 77th and Nicollet. I was amazed at her bravery to do that with just a drivers permit.
And her 16th birthday party. Dorothea had Kate and 3 friends (Jenny, me and I can’t remember the 3rd - perhaps Cindy Kulstad). We each took home a party favor of a small, beautiful, young lady porcelain bust that held violets and babies breath. I saved it and mailed it to her a few years ago. She had no memory of that Sweet 16 Birthday.
Tell her I still have the books that we wrote our favorite Emily Dickinson poems in.
I was hoping to see her at the SW 50th Reunion, but she decided not to attend. I did take an extra SW coffee mug and sent it to her.
I last met her in 2018 at Patrick's for a light lunch and coffee.
And, I had hoped that my husband Brian (also a friend of hers) and I had made it to the Palisades-Kepler State Park, and visited Richard and her.
Thank you, Debbie Hanson Ringham, for your memories of being with Kate. We have lost a stellar human being, but at the same time, we are blessed to have known her.
Not too long ago I was lucky enough to have Kate call me to say she would be in West Des Moines with her husband who had a business meeting and wondered if I would like to have lunch with her. I met Kate at a cozy restaurant and had a terrific time laughing, reminiscing, talking politics, and wallowing in seeing eachother again after such a long time. I wanted to pay for lunch and convinced Kate to let me. The next day, I received a gorgeous arrangement of flowers from Kate. We continued to converse via social media. I helped Kate locate some long lost classmates - Cindy Kulstad was tough, but we found her. I thought something was amiss when I didn't see Kate post much online. I thought, "Well maybe she's on vacation." The heartsick void I felt when I heard Kate was in hospice was overwhelming. "No no no no no," I screamed, "not Katie. Take a jerk; there are lots of those out there, but please, don't take my Katie."
I had to do something besides cry and drink wine and I knew I didn't have much time. It was a Sunday afternoon, but I called Pierson's Florists in Cedar Rapids. They were just about to close. Expecting a negative response, I asked Rollie if there were any chance I could get flowers to my friend that day. I wasn't expecting anything close to what I received; afterall, it was also the day before Labor Day. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to Rollie for what he did. He picked out the most glorious arrangement, took my information, and delivered my bouquet to Kate then and there. The card said "I love you so so much, Kate. Julie" Kate died a few days later.
May your beautiful soul rest in peace, dear friend. I will never ever forget you or your remarkable smile.
Laurie Longeway (Reinertsen)
So sad to hear this. Goodbye my old friend, Rest In Peace.
Deborah Hanson (Ringham)
Thank you Scott. (This was sent to Kate's oldest son before she passed.)
I am thinking of her and family a lot these days.
I was close to Kate through junior high and high school.
I remember baking her a 4 layer birthday cake, each layer a different color, decorated as a white and yellow daisy, which was her favorite back then.
I remember the day Roger Nunn said, “I think I have the perfect guy for Kate.” Which turned into Richard and Kate Rose for 51+ years. ❤️
I remember her mom, Dorothea.
I remember tickling Kate as we walked through the hall in the house on 54th Street and we fell against the wall with such force that we broke through the Sheetrock! Dorothea could not believe it.
I remember sleeping over night one time and Kate really wanted an "EMBURGER." So she took the car and we went to 77th and Nicollet. I was amazed at her bravery to do that with just a drivers permit.
And her 16th birthday party. Dorothea had Kate and 3 friends (Jenny, me and I can’t remember the 3rd - perhaps Cindy Kulstad). We each took home a party favor of a small, beautiful, young lady porcelain bust that held violets and babies breath. I saved it and mailed it to her a few years ago. She had no memory of that Sweet 16 Birthday.
Tell her I still have the books that we wrote our favorite Emily Dickinson poems in.
I was hoping to see her at the SW 50th Reunion, but she decided not to attend. I did take an extra SW coffee mug and sent it to her.
I last met her in 2018 at Patrick's for a light lunch and coffee.
And, I had hoped that my husband Brian (also a friend of hers) and I had made it to the Palisades-Kepler State Park, and visited Richard and her.
Just some memories I wanted to share today.
Julie Peterson (Freeman)
Thank you, Debbie Hanson Ringham, for your memories of being with Kate. We have lost a stellar human being, but at the same time, we are blessed to have known her.
Not too long ago I was lucky enough to have Kate call me to say she would be in West Des Moines with her husband who had a business meeting and wondered if I would like to have lunch with her. I met Kate at a cozy restaurant and had a terrific time laughing, reminiscing, talking politics, and wallowing in seeing eachother again after such a long time. I wanted to pay for lunch and convinced Kate to let me. The next day, I received a gorgeous arrangement of flowers from Kate. We continued to converse via social media. I helped Kate locate some long lost classmates - Cindy Kulstad was tough, but we found her. I thought something was amiss when I didn't see Kate post much online. I thought, "Well maybe she's on vacation." The heartsick void I felt when I heard Kate was in hospice was overwhelming. "No no no no no," I screamed, "not Katie. Take a jerk; there are lots of those out there, but please, don't take my Katie."
I had to do something besides cry and drink wine and I knew I didn't have much time. It was a Sunday afternoon, but I called Pierson's Florists in Cedar Rapids. They were just about to close. Expecting a negative response, I asked Rollie if there were any chance I could get flowers to my friend that day. I wasn't expecting anything close to what I received; afterall, it was also the day before Labor Day. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to Rollie for what he did. He picked out the most glorious arrangement, took my information, and delivered my bouquet to Kate then and there. The card said "I love you so so much, Kate. Julie" Kate died a few days later.
May your beautiful soul rest in peace, dear friend. I will never ever forget you or your remarkable smile.