Katherine Lande, age 63, of Prior Lake, MN (formerly of Mishicot, WI), passed away suddenly on June 11, 2014 at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital. A Celebration of Life Service is Monday, June 16, 2014 at 2:00 PM with visitation one hour prior at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lakeville.
It was a hot day in Webster City, Iowa on August 2, 1950 when Lloyd and Marie (Stempke) Zahner welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Katherine Sue Zahner, into the world. Kathy was the fifth of six children in the family. As a child, Katherine enjoyed taking trips to her Aunt Clara’s farm. This is where she learned to cook and spent much of her time playing on the farm. Kathy always enjoyed listening to music, and she won a Nat King Cole record from a radio contest; she listened to it so much that she eventually wore out the record.
When her father passed away, Katherine needed to get a job to help support her family. She started waitressing at Dee’s Coffee Shop. As luck would have it, a handsome young man named Allen Lande was a regular customer at the restaurant. The two began dating when Katherine was a junior in High School, and their love quickly blossomed. Katherine was an intelligent woman, and she was the first from her family to graduate from High School. Katherine then attended a Computer Programming School. Her studies earned her a job as a computer programmer for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Des Moines. She worked hard to make a better life for herself and help put Allen through veterinary school.
Katherine married the love of her life on August 24, 1969. Katherine and Allen exchanged wedding vows at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Webster City. Soon they were blessed with three beautiful children, Elisa, Emily and Nathan. Katherine was a wonderful wife and mother. She put everyone else’s needs before her own. She finally had the loving family she had always dreamed of.
When the kids were young, the Landes moved to a number of towns and finally settled in Mishicot, Wisconsin. It was there that Katherine and Allen worked hard building their Veterinary Clinic. Allen would provide care for the animals, and Katherine did everything else. She managed the office, answered phones, and helped with the animals. Luckily the clinic was attached to their family home, so Katherine was able to spend time with the kids while still being a working-mom. Family was important, and Katherine made sure they took a family vacation to Door County every summer.
Katherine had a passion for crafts. She was always learning and trying new things. She especially loved anything to do with stitching…sewing, cross-stitching, beading, hardanger stitching…you name it, Katherine could do it. She was also a wonderful cook. This passion started as a girl at her Aunt Clara’s farm and continued throughout her life. Katherine and Allen were members of a Gourmet Club for over 20 years. Kathy loved the challenge of making an especially difficult recipe.
After retiring, Katherine and Allen moved to Prior Lake, MN to be closer to family. Katherine’s biggest passion in life was her family. She especially loved being Nana to Emma, Jakob and Heath. Katherine was a caring and compassionate woman who showered everyone she met with love.
Katherine will always be remembered by her husband, Allen Lande; children, Elisa (Dan Brown) Lande-Brown, Emily (Laurence) Alison, Nathan (Ursula) Lande; grandchildren, Emma and Jakob Brown, Heath Alison; sisters, Judy Peterson and Ruth (Dan) Olthoff; other loving relatives and many friends. Katherine is preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Robert, Donald and Janice.
