Katherine Marthaler

Katherine J. "Kate" Marthaler, age 94, of Sauk Centre, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 in her home at Riverview Manor surrounded by her family and her beloved caregivers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel and Rev. Andrew Marthaler concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 6 p.m. followed by the United Auxiliaries prayer service at 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

Katherine Josephine Mikkelson was born February 2, 1920 to Mikkal "Mike" and Olga (Johnson) Mikkelson on the family farm in rural Osakis, Minnesota. She was united in marriage to Joseph H. Marthaler on September 30, 1942 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Osakis. Kate belonged to St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre and the Christian Mothers. She was a member of the JC Penney's Retiree's Association, American Legion Post 67 Auxiliary, and the Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853 Auxiliary. Before retirement, Kate was an employee of JC Penney in the downtown Minneapolis store for 20 plus years. She retired to Sauk Centre in 1982. Kate loved her job as a sales associate in the men's department and was known to all her co-workers as the hard working, customer pleasing, and fun loving "Kay". If you had a question about how to dress your husband or son for any event, Kay was your gal. After retirement, Kate enjoyed remodeling her and Jos' lake home, cooking, baking, and caring for Jos, her grandchildren, and her daughter as needed.

Survivors include Kate's daughter, Connie Sell of Sauk Centre; grandchildren, Mike Marthaler, Steve (Kris) Marthaler, Heather Marthaler, Stacie (Dusty) Ilgen, and Katie Blue (friend, Bryan Cavage); very special great-grandchildren, Morgan (Robert) Steele, Drew, Hannah, Colin, Reanna, Mia, Trevor, and Tyler Marthaler, Nicholas Wanderscheid, and Landon Ilgen; sisters, Thelma (Marthaler) Grossman of Sauk Centre, Arlene (Ken) Sorenson of Osakis, Charlotte Schultz of Osakis, and baby sister, Marian Brynjulfson of Sauk Centre; sister-in-law, Shirley Gillan of Sauk Centre; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Kathleen Marthaler, Brian Wanderscheid, and Hazel Dirnberger; beloved caregivers, Ashley, Carrie, Debbie, Dottie, Holly, June, Linda, Lorraine, Mary, Melinda, Paula, and Tina; and her feline companion, Tula.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph "Jos" Marthaler on November 5, 2001; son, Dennis Marthaler on January 6, 1986; brothers, Merlin, Harold, and Raymond Mikkelson; sister, Lela Sax; brothers-in-law, Al Marthaler, Herloff Brynjulfson, Donald Sax, Vince Grossman, and Arnold Schultz; and sister-in-law, Nora Mikkelson.

The family would like to extend a very special thanks to the staff of Riverview Manor, Accra Home Care, Alternative Senior Care, and Sauk Centre Hospice who worked together as an incredible team of caregivers to Kate and support for her family.

Serving as casket bearers will be Drew Marthaler, Nicholas Wanderscheid, Trevor Daily, Tyler Daily, Dustin Ilgen, and Brian Wanderscheid. Cross bearer will be Heather Marthaler and scripture bearer will be Reanna Marthaler. Mass servers will be Phillip Moe, Matthew Moritz, and Madison Moritz. Gift bearers will be Landon Ilgen and Mia Marthaler. Lectors will be Mike Marthaler and Steven Marthaler. Petitions will be read by Kathleen Marthaler, Kris Marthaler, and Hannah Marthaler. Honorary bearers will be Morgan Steele, Colin Marthaler, Roger Beuning, Hazel Dirnberger, Wally Marthaler, and Kate's beloved caregivers, Ashley, Carrie, Debbie, Dottie, Holly, June, Linda, Lorraine, Mary, Melinda, Paula, and Tina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.