Kathryn "Kathy" Reinke

Larchwood, Iowa Kathryn "Kathy" Reinke, age 62, of Larchwood, IA died Tuesday, May 8, 2007, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2007, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA, with Fr. Jeff Schliesman, celebrating. Burial will follow in the Larchwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A parish wake service will be Friday at 7:00 p.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Larchwood. Kathryn "Kathy" Benton Koch Reinke was born July 17, 1944 in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Bernard Benton Koch and Mary Lillian (Abel) Koch. Kathy graduated from Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended the University of North Alabama and the University of Tennessee. Kathy started working with Southern Bell Telephone Company in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. She was united in marriage to Thomas "Tom" Edward Reinke on April 1, 1967 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Larchwood, IA where they made their home. She and Tom met as pen pals while Tom was serving in Vietnam in the Army. In 1966, Kathy transferred to Northwestern Bell, now Qwest Communications, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where she retired after 25 years of service. Pursing her love of crafting and floral design Kathy established The Strawberry Patch in 1982. In 1995 she and a group of friends started A Whole House Full of Goodies , an annual craft boutique. Kathy had a love of writing and continued on as a feature writer for several local papers. Kathys hobbies and interests included crafts, reading, needlepoint, traveling, spending time at Uncle Toms Cabin in Lake Okoboji, but most of all spending time with her children and grandchildren. Kathy will be remembered as a loving wife, caring mother, cherished Nana and a loyal friend. In May of 2006 Kathy was diagnosed with colon cancer. After a courageous battle she passed away on May 8, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Tom of 40 years; her son, Brian and his wife, Leticia, of Midland, TX; her son, Shane and his wife, Michelle, of Sioux Falls, SD; her daughter, Bridget DeSmet and husband, Mike, of Larchwood, IA; 8 grandchildren, Bianca, Brooke, Blayr and Lincoln of Midland, TX; Danielle, Nichole and Trevor of Sioux Falls, SD; Samantha of Larchwood, IA; one brother, Joel Koch and his wife, Marjorie, of Manassas, VA; one sister, Barbara Hoppers and husband, Howard, of Elyria, OH; a special friend, Merendia Powers, of Leighton, AL. Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, and one brother.