Obit: Kathryn Ball

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Kathryn “Katie” Anna Ballenger Ball, 82, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019 at Trinity Rock Island Hospital.

Visitation was held Aug. 30 at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. A funeral service was held Aug. 31 at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Reverend Jeffrey Pautz of Our Savior Lutheran Church officiated.

Memorials may be made to: Our Savior Lutheran Church, 2611 Lucas Street, Muscatine, IA 52761; Children’s Miracle Network at the University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242; Camp lo-Dis-E-CA, 3271 Sandy Beach Road, NE, Solon, IA 52333. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Katie was born on Oct. 15, 1936 on a farm north of Muscatine, the daughter of Walter “Pete” Ballenger and Inez Boom Paetz. She married Allan Ball on Nov. 19, 1955 at Zion Lutheran Church in Wilton.

She graduated from Wilton High School in 1955, raised five children (four daughters and one son), worked for a short time at Heinz, was a Tupperware Manager for five years and retired from Real Estate after a 30-year career.

She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, having served on various committees. She was an avid card player and participates in several monthly card clubs. Her family has come to enjoy her many collections of Bluebird crystal vases, butterfly and watermelon artifacts. She absolutely loved parties and family gatherings and enjoyed buying gifts throughout the year for her favorite holiday – Christmas.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband Allan Ball of Muscatine; her daughters, Patricia Henson and husband Michael of St. Charles, Missouri, Susan McCleary and husband Bob of Muscatine, Debra Ball of Durant, Rebecca Ernst and husband John II of Muscatine; her son, James Ball of Muscatine; her brother, Ronald Ballenger and wife Marilyn of Moscow; her sister-in-law, Darlene Ballenger of Bennett; her brother-in-law, Michael Carter of Muscatine; her grandchildren, Erin Henson Schepis, Kayla Henson Ross, Derek (Jamie) Martz and Darrin (Heather) Martz, Benjamin and Brittany Jepson, and John III and Joseph Ernst; her great-grandchildren, Tyler, Logan and Madison Schepis, Alexis Sanchez, Krystol and Dakotah Martz; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepfather; Reinhart Paetz; her brother Daryl; her sister Frances Carter; her stepbrother Jerry Paetz; and one nephew Dean Ballenger.

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