Kathie Wimer, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Friday evening, Sept. 13, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon. Burial was in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lynnville Historical Society.
Katherine Alice Wimer, the daughter of Millard and Blanche (Scull) Sparks, was born Mar. 3, 1933, on the family farm in rural Jasper County. She was the salutatorian of the Class of 1951 at Lynnville High School. Following high school, Kathie worked a short time at Maytag. She was united in marriage to Benny Wimer in September 1952 at Lynnville Friends Church. To this union, four children were born: Kevin, Kurt, Karen, and Kent. In 1968, Benny was killed in an airplane crash and Kathie was forced to raise her four children by herself with the help of some nearby family. After her youngest child, Kent, graduated from high school, Kathie volunteered at St. Luke’s Hospital. After several years of volunteer work, she took a full-time job as the dietary clerk also at St. Luke’s Hospital. She absolutely loved her job and had the opportunity to work several years before she retired in 2000.
Kathie enjoyed bowling, reading, playing pool, and she loved to dance, butterflies, and above all, she loved to mushroom hunt. She also was an excellent cook, had a love for cats, and enjoyed her trips to Meskwaki Casino on her birthday every year. She also enjoyed going for walks, treasure hunting with her metal detector, cross-country snow skiing, and watching her favorite shows on TV, “Dancing with the Stars” and “General Hospital.” She was a lifetime member of the St. Luke’s Auxiliary, a member of the United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, and the Day Trippers Ladies Club.
Her memory will be honored by her children, Kevin Wimer of Anamosa and Kurt Wimer of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Jeremy Wimer, Cierra Wimer, Logan Wimer, Hannah Wimer, Timmy Wimer, and Ben Wimer; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Jim (Doris) Sparks of Newton; a sister, Maida (Ron) Dunwoody of Lynnville; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Benny Wimer; a daughter, Karen Wimer; and a son, Kent Wimer.
