Katherine M. Housh

      Katherine Mae Housh, 88, of Mt. Pleasant, died at 6:35 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2002, at the Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

      A funeral mass for Mrs. Housh will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, with Father Nick Adam officiating. Burial will be in the St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at the Weir Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, where the Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. The casket will be closed. A memorial has been established to the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

      Mrs. Housh was born Nov. 5, 1914, in Trenton, the daughter of James Ygurra and Youldia Elarue Smith Feehan. She attended school in Trenton. She married Kenton Ygurra "Red" Housh on July 27, 1932, at St. Alphonsus Church. He preceded her in death Saturday, April 7, 1984. She was employed in the housekeeping departments of the Stardust and the former Broadway Motels in Mt. Pleasant. She had also worked as an aide at the Mental Health Institute in Mt. Pleasant. For many years she was employed as a baker at the former Wing Bakery in Mt. Pleasant. Following her semi-retirement in 1968, she became involved in home daycare for young children. She was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and was a member of the St. Alphonsus Altar and Rosary Society. She had belonged to the VFW Auxiliary in Mt. Pleasant. In her spare time, she loved to embroider. She had embroidered numerous quilt tops and other items for family and friends. She also loved to spend time with her family.

      Survivors include a son, James and his wife Mary Lee Housh of Lisle, Ill.; five daughters, Mary Reinier of Dickinson, Texas, Leona Wilson of Mt. Pleasant, Sandy and her husband Charles Johnson of Wellman, Judy and her husband Robert Kephart of Mt. Pleasant, and Vicki and her husband James Perkins of Oskaloosa; a daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Housh of Mt. Pleasant; a son-in-law, Ron Farrington of Wayland; two brothers, Allen and his wife Jan Feehan of Green Castle, Mo. and Stanley Feehan of Joy, Ill.; 25 grandchildren; more than 30 great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren.

      In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Larry Housh; a daughter, Sue Farrington; two grandsons, Kenton Smith and Donald Reinier; a great-grandson, Miguel Alvarez; two sisters, Alice Tracy and Ellen Myers; and four brothers, William, Monroe, Harry and Rodney Feehan.