Kathy Gies

Kathy Kilson Maree Gies was born to Carl and Glenn (McDonald) Kilson 14 June 1944 in Cedar Falls, IA. She was baptized as a child. She was 16 years younger than her brother Kleon ("Bub"), who joined the Army when Kathy was about 2 years old. She enjoyed her dogs, nature, being a "twirler" in high school, and her family. The course of her mother's struggle with the breast cancer which finally killed her was hard on Kathy and her father Carl.

In 1961 she married Dean Fagerlind. To them were born 3 sons: Steve (Beth), Mike (Ann) and Joe.

After working as both a server (e.g., at the Elks Club) and a church secretary as her sons grew up, she attended UNI (the University of Northern Iowa), from which she graduated with a degree in religion and an emphasis in art.

Beginning fall 1989 Kathy attended Wartburg Theological Seminary (Dubuque, IA), then an ALC seminary. In 1991-1992 she served as a theological intern at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Ft. Dodge, IA, under the mentorship of Pastor Allen Hermeier. There Kathy met Waldemar Gies, an ALC parish pastor serving Fulton Lutheran Church, Roelyn (a suburb of Moorland and Ft. Dodge), IA.

Kathy and Waldemar were married the afternoon of 14 June 1992 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Pastors Allen Hermeier and Carroll Lang officiating. While she finished her last year at Wartburg Seminary, she and Waldemar lived in Griswold, IA, where Waldemar had accepted a call to Faith Lutheran Church.

After her graduation from Wartburg Seminary with a Masters of Divinity degree, she was approved by her Synod Candidacy Committee (Northeastern IA Synod ELCA), went through an excruciating round of interviewing in the Central Wisconsin to which she had been assigned. After her approval was renewed, she and Waldemar traveled thousands of miles interviewing for call in all of Wisconsin (from the far SW corner of Iowa) ... fruitlessly.

The Gieses moved from Griswold to Rembrandt IA (north of Storm Lake, IA) where Waldemar served 2 congregations and Kathy served as mayor of the town.

In her waiting, Kathy enjoyed her labradors, Waldemar's German Shorthairs, the couple's Old English Sheepdogs, and the series of cats she told Waldemar that "we need." She played the piano and cello, painted in oils, acrylics, and egg tempura, and enjoyed decorating her home (and she left furniture where she first liked it).

While living in rural Rogers City, MI, Kathy was called to serve St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Haginsville, MI, was ordained, and pastored 4 years part-time before having to go on disability.

December 1992 Kathy began her struggle with cancer (lump in her breast) which finally encompassed 3 surgeries and radiation treatment. Beginning in 1994 her rheumatologists diagnosed her with mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, Shogrin's and Reynauld's. Lupus (SLE), heart problems (from Lupus) leading to an arterial graft (CABG) , and Interstitial Lung Disease (also from Lupus), osteoarthritis, and spinal issues. Summer 2014 in Warren, MI, as she faced more serious medications for her ailments, an evaluation indicated she suffered strokes, had Alzheimer's, or both; and her neurologist said it was both.

The end of summer of 2015, after Waldemar retired from his last Call, the couple bought a house in Rochester, MN and moved. The day the moving van delivered "stuff" to the storage area, Kathy drove off in her Blazer, got lost, and realized that she could never drive again. She was able to stay in their home 4 years, despite some falls. ("Four nice men stopped by, came in, and got me up into the chair," she said in puzzlement at one point; she had one of those fall alert sensor, and it was a good thing!)

Pastor Greg Heidorn, then at Grace by the Lake, was concerned about the Gieses and regularly visited with his pastoral care and love of Christ.

28 December 2018 Kathy realized she could not remain in her home and was transported to Rochester East Health Services, where she had done rehab twice before. December 2024 she was moved to the Memory Unit.

Monday (21 April 2025) Kathy was just as well as in prior months. Tuesday she was much less responsive and unable to feed herself. Thursday (24 April 2025) Heartland Hospice signed-on. In peace and after devotions Kathy died in faith at 6:45pm Saturday, 26 April 2025, with Waldemar by her side.

Thanks to Rochester East Health Service, including nursing staff, the administration, the cafeteria folk, the maintenance people, the laundry people. Thanks to the Heartland Hospice staff who were involved for the 3rd time (from Thursday through Saturday and Kathy's death). Thanks to family and friends who continued reaching out to Waldemar. Thanks to Pastor Mark Nienow for his ministry and for the services of True Life Lutheran Church members.

A coffee and sweets reception in the basement will follow the 1:30pm memorial service at True Life Lutheran Church, 2204 22nd Street NW Rochester, MN 55901.

The family encourages memorials to be donated to your local congregation in Kathy's memory and to God's glory. Soli Deo Gloria.

Praise to Christ Jesus, who leads the way and is the resurrection and the life.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Gies family.