Kathryn J. Karsten

Kathryn J. Karsten, 94 of Cedar Falls and formerly of Oelwein, died Monday, September 28, 2026, at Pinnacle Specialty Care in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Visitation: 2:00 to 5:00 P.M., Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Schmitz Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory, Highway 150 South, Oelwein, Iowa.
Graveside Service: 2:00 P.M., Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Iowa.
Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.

Kathryn Jessie Fox was born October 26, 1931, in Wadena, Iowa, the daughter of Jessie Eugene and Wilma Esther (Woellert) Fox. She graduated from the Wadena Community High School with the class of 1949. On July 4, 1954, Kathryn was united in marriage to William Herbert Karsten in Wadena, Iowa. This union was blessed with two sons, Kevin & Lowell. She began her working career with Connors Department Store in Oelwein as a salesclerk and later worked for Oelwein State Bank as a bookkeeper. Kathryn lived most of her life in the Oelwein area and was a proud member of the community. She volunteered at the Oelwein Food Bank, was a RSVP volunteer at Harlan Elementary School in Oelwein and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jesup.

Kathryn is survived by her 2 sons: Kevin (Jacque) Karsten of Waterloo and Lowell (Deb) Karsten of Waterloo; 2 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother: Merle E. Fox, and 2 sisters: Mildred Voshell & Wanda Holden.