Kathryn Ruth (Feser) Stessman was born May 5, 1934, to Frank and Ann (Hawn) Feser near Dunlap. Kathryn attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Dunlap graduating in 1952. As a teenager, Kathryn worked at the Barrett Funeral Home and the Lehan Drug Store. After graduation, she worked at Mutual of Omaha. Sept. 7, 1953, Kathryn married Joseph Jack Stessman at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap. While Jack was in the Army, the couple lived in Alabama and Columbus, Ga. In 1955, the couple moved back to Dunlap and farmed in Shelby County, east of Dunlap. After the children were raised Kathryn worked at the Gold Slipper.
Kathryn was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling and of the Altar Society.
Kathryn died on Oct. 17, 2020, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, at the age of 86 years, five months and 12 days.
Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack on Feb. 25, 2016; son, Larry; four brothers, Virgil, Bob, Bill and Jerry Feser; and a sister, Dorothy Flanagan. She is survived by six children, Bill Stessman of Earling, Jerry Stessman of Sanborn, Bob Stessman and his wife Lois of Manning, Susan and her husband Marc Chappell of Omaha, Neb., Katie and her husband Keith Kuhlman of Oto, and Joe Stessman and his wife Jane of Omaha; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; her “other daughter”, Barb and her husband Tom Smith of Omaha; two brothers, Jim Feser of Omaha and Harold “Happy” Feser of Buffalo, Wyo.; and many other relatives and friends.
A private Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Dunlap. The celebrant was Rev. Joel McNeil. The musicians were: Katelyn Stessman, Annie Stessman, Diane Book and Elizabeth Book. The honorary pallbearers were Kathryn’s grandchildren. The pallbearers were Kathryn’s children. The final resting place is at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dunlap.
Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap was in charge of the arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
