Kathleen Mary Larson

Kathleen (aka Kathy) Mary (Kielusiak) Larson, 77, of Ames, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 5th, 2024 at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 8th, 1947 to Chester (aka Kelly) & Blanche (Batista) Kielusiak.

Celebration of life to be held at Reiman Gardens,1407 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50011 on, Monday, October 28th, 2024 from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Kathy graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 1965 in Downers Grove, Illinois. She went on to graduate from the University of Iowa with a degree in dental hygiene in 1969. Afterwards, she worked as a dental hygienist in Minneapolis, MN for a few years. It was there where Kathy met the love of her life, David (Dave) J. Larson. They were united in marriage on November 7, 1970, in Downers Grove.

Shortly after Kathy & Dave married, they moved to Columbia, Missouri, where David was working on his Masters of Science degree. It was there in Columbia where Kathy and Dave welcomed their only child, Laura in 1974. They then moved to Ames, Iowa, where Kathy worked as a dental hygienist. Kathy had a strong thirst for constant learning and challenge so she went back to school years later, and graduated from Iowa State University, with a degree in Accounting, where she spent the majority of her career at Iowa State University using her accounting expertise in a few different departments through her tenure there within the Center for Entrepreneurship/ISU Small Business Development Center and the Agriculture and Rural Development Center. Kathy retired from Iowa State University in 2010.

Kathy had a passion for cooking which resulted in her love for entertaining friends and family. She & Dave were part of a couples Gourmet Group with her close friends for ~40+ years. Kathy & Dave also were part of a 500 Card Club that they would gather for, developing close friendships throughout the years. Kathy loved to quilt and enjoyed giving her creations as gifts to her loved ones. Her garden was always full of both flowers and vegetables and loved sharing the garden with her cherished neighbors. Kathy was very handy, and had many DIY projects that she liked to do including ownership, remodeling & maintenance of a few rentals in Ames which she and Dave did primarily on their own; her biggest project was creating her dream lake place “Up North” on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais, MN where she and Dave spent much of their retirement. Kathy was “famous” by all those that knew and loved her for her yummy polish cooking, jokes and overall witty humor which she served up at that lake place to friends and family.

Kathy is survived by her daughter, Laura Larson Schafbuch & Laura's partner, Gianluca Baroncini; her two granddaughters, Madelyn & Rachel Schafbuch; her three siblings, Carol (Jon Yatabe) Kielusiak, Tom (Kathy) Kielusiak, and Peggy (Mark) Frahm; and 10 beloved nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Dave, and both of her parents.

In lieu of flowers, you can send memorials to Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, 28 Moose Pond Dr. Grand Marais, MN55604; 218-388-9915; View Website, Museum and Nature Center (gunflinthistory.org)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may also be left at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com for the Larson family.