Obituary of Kathleen Pogge

Kathleen Agnes Knebel Pogge, 95, Iowa City, formerly Riverside, passed away on September 7, 2018, at Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.  Memorial Mass for Kathy will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the Iowa Veterans Home.  Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 26^th at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Riverside.

Kathy was born on August 21, 1923, the youngest of eight daughters born to Joseph and Catherine (Bauer) Knebel.  She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Riverside and attended one year of college at Iowa City Commercial Business School.  Subsequently, she enlisted in the Navy, as women could not enlist until age 20.  She was assigned to basic training in Oklahoma and eventually stationed in Norfolk, VA, working in naval communications and intelligence, charting naval ships in the Pacific.  One of her life‑time thrills was in 1945, after the war was over and the peace treaty was signed aboard the USS Missouri battleship, the USS Missouri was scheduled to dock in the port at Norfolk.  Kathy was honored to be chosen to board one of the tugboats that escorted that ship into the harbor.  This was one of the biggest thrills of her lifetime -- along with her hot air balloon ride over Iowa City on her 80^th birthday!  She was truly an adventurous and spirited woman.  Another honor was being awarded the Quilt of Valor in April, 2017.  These quilts are a tangible gift of gratitude, thanking veterans for their service and sacrificing their lives for our freedom.

Mom was a stay‑at‑home mom until we grew more independent and then started her career at People’s Trust and Savings Bank in Riverside.  She thoroughly enjoyed her work for Don and Betty Kirchner.  When she retired in 1985 after 25 years, the Kirchner’s gifted Mom and Dad with a trip to Waikiki and Maui.  After her retirement, they moved to Iowa City, where they spent the majority of their latter years, moving to Marshalltown in November, 2015. 

Mom was a superb self-taught cook and baker, and memories of her most requested dishes were fried chicken, potato salad, banana cream pie and chicken and noodles.  Birthdays were not complete without her ice cream cakes.  She could repair anything with her White sewing machine and crocheted, embroidered and cross‑stitched intricate pictures containing thousands of stitches -- true works of art worthy of framing.  We slept on pillowcases and dried dishes with  “tea towels” showcasing her skills.  An outdoor lover, she had enormous vegetable and floral gardens, with orchids being her specialty.  She passed her love of fresh food and flowers to us.  Exploring Iowa via car, along with swimming and picnics at Lake Darling in the summer, were weekly sources of family fun.  She was an avid lover of crossword and word search puzzles. 

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to talk about Mom without mentioning Dad.  They were practically inseparable and almost “one”.  They were married 68 years when Dad passed and were the dynamic duo, still reaching for and holding hands until the end.  They traveled to Cubs baseball games and crisscrossed the USA via car, with Mom as map reader and navigator, although she told us she almost wore a hole in the car floor‑board pushing her imaginary brake pedal.  They didn’t miss a Cubs game or a UI sporting event on TV, comfortably seated in their blue recliners.  If there was a local church supper, they were there, plus Fall car trips to Wisconsin to the apple orchards. 

Sunday was Mass followed by lunch out -- a simple routine which they loved.  They were both true testaments to enjoying a simpler life and satisfaction with what you are given and also the fortitude to keep on going, no matter what.  Mom’s tough spirit—‘I can get through this’ mindset and ‘just do it and don’t take no’ stubbornness which got her through tough times is a trait we are particularly grateful for. 

Mom lived a long, full life and will be remembered as a wonderful wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great‑grandmother, her memory cherished by all.  So, Mom, rest easy -- enjoy holding hands with Dad and chatting with your sisters and your Mom and Dad. 

Kathy will be deeply missed by her children: Carol (Thom) Kirkpatrick, Hills; Barbara (Dan) Pence, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii; and Nancy Kirkpatrick (Joel Simms), North English; grandchildren: Dan (Heather) Pence; Chris (Erin) Michel; Stacey (Chad) Huedepohl; and Levi (Lauren) Kirkpatrick; great‑grandchildren: Tailor Kai Pence; Luke and Chase Michel; Lena and Vera Huedepohl; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert on December 31, 2017; and seven sisters: Loretta (Shorty) Henning; Celeste (Peggy) Rose; Norma Knebel; Alberta (Bert) Hart; Viva Shradel; Dorothy (Doby) Todd and Charetta Knebel.

            The family thanks the staff on 4 Malloy South and Ulery 7 at the Iowa Veterans Home for their compassionate and high‑quality care.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Fund c/o The UI Center for Advancement, 1 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242.  Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.