Kathleen Smisek

Kathleen K. “Katie” Smisek, age 79 of Faribault, MN passed away on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at The Emeralds of Faribault following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church with Fr. Cory Rohlfing, officiating.  Interment will be held at St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault. The service will also be live-streamed through a link found on Kathleen’s obituary page at www.parkerkohlfuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Kathleen Kay, the daughter of Frank and Myrtle (Gibbs) Waldron, was born on January 8, 1941 in Faribault.  She attended Bethlehem Academy and graduated with the class of 1958.  On April 22, 1961 she was united in marriage to Wayne Smisek at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Faribault.  Wayne and Katie made their home on Cannon Lake where Katie was a homemaker and took care of their growing family.  She enjoyed caring for her flowers, bird watching, canning vegetables and jam.  She also had pleasure in entertaining while celebrating birthdays and holidays with all of her family.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years Wayne Smisek of Faribault; by her children, Debbie (Kevin) Van Zuilen of Lonsdale, MN, Lisa (Terry) Reuvers of Maple Grove, MN, Lynn (Tony) Grinnell of Faribault, Steven (Jesy) Smisek of Mankato, MN and Brad (Melissa) Smisek of Lake Crystal, MN; by ten grandchildren Megan (Julio) Gasco, Kali (Joe) Yeado, Tony (Kaley) Reuvers, Matt Reuvers, Andy (Jackie) Grinnell, Dan Grinnell, Adley Smisek, Leighton Smisek, Peyton Smisek and Skylar Smisek; by her siblings, Janet (David) Doneux of Northfield, MN, Gertrude Anderson, Patricia (David) Bauer, Maxine (David) Jandro and Margaret (Milo) Larson, all of Faribault and by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Myrtle (Gibbs) Waldron, her in-laws, Sylvester and Lucille (Becker) Smisek, two sisters, Priscilla Waldron and Sylvia Waldron and her brother-in-law, John Anderson.

A special thanks to all of the third floor staff at District One Hospital, Brighton Hospice and staff at The Emeralds for the care that was given to Katie.