Lydia M. Kann

GUTTENBERG, IOWA

Lydia M. Kann, 93, of Guttenberg, Iowa, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023 at Guttenberg Care Center in Guttenberg, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 9 – 10:45 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg.

A Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 11 a.m., Monday, March 6, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg. Burial will follow at Kann-St. Michael Cemetery. Rev. Marvin Bries will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Casey Kann, Michelle Volkmann, Naomi Schoniger, Jason Zmuda. Nicholas Adams, Amanda Johnson.

Lydia Maria Kann was born the daughter of Walter and Marianne (Wiegleb) Hammer

on August 14, 1929 in Berlin Germany.

Lydia received her education at a public school in Berlin, Lichterfelde, Germany, and graduated at age 16. Then, Lydia worked as an apprentice at a greenhouse and attended school one day a week to learn about gardening, where she worked until she was 24.

Following the end of World War II, members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg sent donations to the Holy Family Catholic Church in Berlin Germany. Lydia received a blue suit jacket and skirt, with Anna Kann’s mailing address pinned inside a pocket. She wrote a letter to Anna, thanking her for the suit. Anna’s son Virgil Hugo Kann responded and the couple corresponded for a year and a half. On September 9, 1953 Lydia was united in marriage with Virgil at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Berlin, Germany. Lydia joined Virgil on his family’s farm in October 1953 and became a U.S. citizen on August 31st 1960.

Lydia worked on the farm, even learning to drive a tractor. She always had a large vegetable and flower garden. For eight years, she was the head cook for St. Mary’s hot lunch program. Later, she worked part time at the deli in California.

Lydia played piano and loved music. She sang with St. Mary’s choir in Guttenberg. When Lydia and Virgil moved to Solana Beach, California in 1983 Lydia joined the choir at St James and was a member for 30 years. Lydia lived in California until January 2014 then she moved to the Tower Livging Center in Garnavillo. In 2021 Lydia moved to the Guttenberg Care Center.

Throughout her life, Lydia enjoyed to knit, crochet, needlepoint, sew, quilt, craft and do crossword puzzels in English and German. Many of her projects were gifts for family and friends. Lydia was well known for taking pictures during her travels, special events, and creating scrapbooks. She played many different kinds of cards and was an expert on the rules of Canasta.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sister Dagmar Prilla; nephew Swen (Gritt) Prilla, Katharina, Johannes, and Leonore of Germany. Lydia is survived by her 6 children, 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. This includes Barbara Miller of Holy Cross, Naomi Schoniger, Jameson, Jameson Jr., Isaiah; Jason (Heidi) Zmuda, Raya, Gwendolyn, Orion; Anthony (Patricia) Zmuda, Odin, Berlin, Soleil; Rebecca (Randy) Adams of Garnavillo, Nicholas (Nova) Adams, Isabella, Ava; Amanda (Steve) Johnson, Joslin, Maisy; Brandon (Samantha) Adams; Peter & (Joyce) Kann of Garnavillo, Kelly (Brian) Trzesniak, Rhowan, Adalyn; Casey (Kristen) Kann, Ava, Carter, Colten, Aubrey; Roy (Donna) Kann of Guttenberg, Michelle (Benny) Volkmann, Olivia, Anya; Colleen (Adam) Losey, Eleanor, Claire; Rachel (Chris) Wolfe; Paul Kann of Lynwood, WA, and Andrew Kann of Vista, CA., Colby, Devin, and Savannah; and sister-in-law Betty Kann of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Virgil; brother Walter Jr., twin baby siblings Hans Juergen and Brigette; sister-in-laws Jeanette (Wilfred) Berns, Arlene (Ray) St. John; brother-in-laws Paul Prilla, , Fred (Rosemary) Kann, Owen (Gerry) Kann,Donald (Helen) Kann and Duane Kann.

Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg is assisting the family and information is available at www.morrisfuneralhomes.com. Memorials may be sent to Morris Funeral Home (in care of the deceased) 207 South 1st St, Guttenberg, IA 52052.