Kathleen Joester

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Kathleen A. Joester, 96, of Dyersville passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Sunday, January 28, 2018, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade. Visitation will be held from 3-7 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where Catholic Daughters of America and American Legion Auxiliary Rosary will be recited at 4 pm. Visitation will continue Thursday from 10-11 am at Kramer Funeral Home prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2018, St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Conway will officiate. Kathleen was born June 3, 1921, in Dyersville the daughter of Ulrich “Ole” and Eugenia “Gene” (Milbert) Tegeler. She attended St. Francis Xavier Grade School and High School, graduating in 1938. She attended the University of Northern Iowa and Upper Iowa University. She married Donald A. Joester on July 6, 1946, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. He preceded her in death in 1972. Kathleen had a teaching career that spanned more than 60 years. She began her career in 1939, teaching in rural schools for 9 years. She then had the distinction of being the first lay teacher to serve at St. Francis Xavier Grade School and taught there for 27 years. In her retirement, she continued to teach part-time for NICC’s Adult Literacy Program for more than 20 years. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and the American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include her 5 children: Pat (Lori) Joester and Pam (Scott) Nesteby of Dubuque, Peggy (Tim) Michaelsen of Monticello, Paul (Sara) Joester of Clearwater, FL, and Phyllis Becker of Dyersville; 9 grandchildren: Katie (Brian) Mitchell, Steven and Kristina Nesteby, Brian (Suni) Michaelsen, Bre State, Laura (Nick) Linder, Natalie, Aaron (Erin), and Stephanie Becker; 8 great grandchildren; siblings: Eileen Olberding of Dyersville and Conrad (Jeanette) Tegeler of Manchester, and a sister-in-law, Janice Tegeler of Dyersville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her parents-in-law, John and Minnie Joester, her husband, a brother, Larry Tegeler, a sister-in-law, Jane Joester, and a brother-in-law, Bob Olberding. Memorials are preferred to Beckman High School. The family wishes to thank the staffs of Shady Rest Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque for their compassionate care.