March 20, 1932 - September 30, 2021
Catherine “Katie” Thilges, age 89, formerly of Algona, passed away Sept. 30, 2021 at her daughter’s home in Urbandale. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Divine Mercy Catholic Parish – St. Cecelia in Algona. Burial will take place in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in St. Joseph. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the church.
Katie Thilges, the daughter of James and Mary (Schuler) King, was born on March 20, 1932, in Graettinger. She graduated from Graettinger High School in 1950. Following high school, she attended St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City and graduated in 1953. On June 30, 1953, she was united in marriage with Harold Thilges in St. Joseph.
The couple farmed in the St. Joseph area until 1982 when they moved to Algona.
Katie worked at St. Ann’s Hospital, later known as Kossuth County Hospital, and now known as Kossuth Regional Health Center. At the hospital she taught candy stripers, nurses’ aides, prenatal classes for 10 years and newborn resuscitation for five years. She worked as the OB Supervisor for 28 1/2 years. She also volunteered as the area coordinator for Compassionate Friends after her son Richard’s death in 1978.
Katie is survived by her children, James (Barbara) of St. Joseph, Steven (Kim) of Urbandale, Ann (Scott) Belt of Council Bluffs, Mary Horstman of Urbandale, Helen (Kenny) Baas of Council Bluffs; Barbara (Larry) Levine of Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Therese Richter of Bancroft, Joan (Joe) Welch of Council Bluffs and Sharon Thilges (Ron Manansala) of San Francisco, Calif.; 32 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; brother Donald (Pam) King of Kearney, Neb.; sisters-in-law Doris King and Dorothy King; and brother-in-law Terry Christensen.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harold; her parents; sisters Donna Christensen and Mary Ellen King; brothers Joe, Frank and John King; son Richard; a grandson, Daniel Thilges and son-in-law David Richter.
Condolences may be left at www.lentzfuneralhome.com. Memorials to the family to disperse to her favorite charities.