Obituary of Kathryn Ann Carlson

Kathryn Ann (Schmid) Carlson went into the arms of our Lord on Saturday, February 17th, 2024. She was born to the late Walter and Anna Schmid on September 1, 1938 in Topeka, Kansas. She attended Kansas State University where she earned a bachelor of science and became a medical technologist. There she also met her husband Gordon Carlson. Together, they shared a love for the church, gardening, and travel. They were a close knit couple until his death in 2021. After Gordon’s passing, Kathy moved to Iowa City, Iowa to live with her daughter, Susan.

Professionally, Kathy worked for Phelps County Regional Medical Center, becoming the manager of the lab. She also went back to school and received her MBA from Drury University.

Kathy had great vitality with wide ranging interests and enthusiasm for life. She especially enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, and cooking, always looking for new recipes to try out on friends and family.

God and the Christian faith were Kathy’s rock and her life’s focus. She was very active in her churches, first at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rolla, Missouri where she was involved with the Dorcas society and the LWML among other groups, and then with Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Iowa where she was involved with LWML and the quilting group.

Kathy is survived by her children: Susan Carlson of Iowa City, Iowa; Virginia Carlson (John Wauchope) of Redlands, California; and John Carlson (Tara Risser Carlson) of Lexington, Kentucky; as well as her grandchildren, Joshua Wauchope (Heather Wauchope);  Arial Wauchope Berman (Eric Berman); Gavin, Xinlei, Tessa, Claire, and Qing Carlson. She also had four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, John, Andrina, and Sebastian. While nothing can replace the hole in our hearts after her passing, we are comforted knowing that she is with her Heavenly Father.

A memorial service is planned for 10:30 am on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Iowa City, Iowa, with interment planned for later this year at the Cemetery of New Gottland Lutheran Church in McPherson, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Lead a Child (leadachild.org), Immanuel Lutheran Church (ilcrolla.org), or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (ourredeemer.org).