Kathleen Kester

Heaven is now graced with the smile and laugh of 91 year old Kathleen Kester of Marshalltown. She departed this earthly life on the evening of Saturday, April 4th, at the Grandview Heights. Graveside funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 8th, at the Calvary Cemetery at Victor. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. Born Mary Kathleen Edelen on June 3rd, 1923, in Brooklyn, she was the daughter and one of three children born to Wallace H. and Lulu Elizabeth (Akery) Edelen. She graduated from the Brooklyn High School in 1942. Soon after, she moved to Michigan to work in a factory. Kathleen was united in marriage to Leonard Wauters in Victor. He preceded her in death on April 17th, 1957. In 1961, she was married to Gilbert Gib Kester. Kathleen was employed at the Iowa Veterans Home for 10 years and also the 13th Street Inn. She was raised in the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church and later converted and raised her family Catholic with her marriage to Mr. Wauters. Babies always brought a smile to her face as well as making crafts and decoupage (Santa and Mrs. Claus). She enjoyed being around home and painting. Most of all she treasured her family. Left to cherish her memory is her son, Tom (Kathryn) Wauters of Scottsdale, AZ, daughter Anita (Bruce) Levis of Marshalltown, daughter-in-law Nancy Wauters of Cedar Rapids, and her three grandchildren: Kim Wauters, Kevin Wauters and Ryan Levis. In death, she rejoined her parents, her son Pat Wauters, brothers Charlie and Keith Edelen and her husbands.