Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, Iowa. Burial will be in the Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman, Iowa.
A memorial service will be held 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at the Garden City Methodist Church with a family gathering and dinner to follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Community Center in Garden City.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Garden City Methodist Church or Glasscock County 4-H.
Katherine was born November 5, 1935, in Grinnell, the daughter of Edward B. and Sarah Evelyn Miller Peak. She was raised in Gilman and graduated from Gilman High School in 1954. She received her BS degree from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa in 1958 and did extensive graduate work. She was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, a scholastic honorary, and Omicron Nu, a home economics scholastic honorary. She served as an extension trainee in Story County, Iowa during the summer of 1957. She was named outstanding education major her senior year at ISU. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary for key women educators. She was selected for “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” in Iowa and Texas, a recognition honor from students.
On June 29, 1958, she was united in marriage to Vernon Sturtz, in Grinnell. He preceded her in death in 1977. They had two sons, Steve of San Angelo and Greg of Midland. She lived most of her life in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and in the Gilman area. She taught school for 26 years in Iowa; three of those she served as a supervising teacher for senior students from ISU.
She moved to Garden City after her retirement in 1998 and subbed in the Garden City schools for 10 years and spent one year working for Howard College in Big Spring.
Katherine was civically minded and was a member and actively involved in many organizations, committees, clubs and boards, including church, schools, business and community.
Survivors include two sons, Steve (Bridgett) Sturtz of San Angelo and Greg of Midland; one granddaughter, Caitlin Paige Sturtz; five step-grandchildren, Cole (Ami) Doss, Cade (Lauren Plagens, fiancée) Doss, and Jordan, Saegan and Edwin Jost; three sisters, Sandy Tokle of Grinnell, Carolyn (Rich) Stadtmueller of Monticello, Iowa and Polly Knoll of Waukee, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Jan Peak of Grinnell; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, Ed Peak; one brother-in-law, Ray Tokle; and a niece, Jennifer Knoll.
Family and friends may sign an online register book atwww.johnsons-funeralhome.com.
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