Annetta Katz, 77

Feb. 18, 1943 —
Nov. 6, 2020
 
NEW HAMPTON - Annetta Kay Katz, age 77, of New Hampton, Iowa, died on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, at New Hampton Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Hampton, with Rev. Peter Faugstad officiating.
Annetta Katz was born on Feb. 18, 1943, to Orvin and Janette (Haugsted) Knutson in New Hampton, and she grew up on a farm in the Schley area, where she went to country school before attending what was then known as Cresco (Iowa) High School.
While in high school, she met Earl “Buster” Katz, and the two fell in love and were married on Feb. 20, 1960, beginning a 60-year marriage filled with love and happy memories. The couple welcomed four children, Brenda, Cindy, Dawn and Joshua. Annetta loved being a wife and a mother. She was “super fun,” loved to laugh and joke and was just about the sweetest woman a person would ever meet.
She was not afraid of hard work. In early years, she worked at the Crystal Grill, then later provided daycare in her home for a number of years, in addition to providing help with household duties for many in her community. About the time Josh began attending kindergarten, Annetta took a job as a cook at New Hampton Elementary School. It was perfect for her because she could become a “mother hen” to hundreds of children each school year. In short, her heart was enormous when it came to children.
Buster raced stock cars in the 1970s, and Annetta spent many a weekend at the track with her daughters and extended family, supporting her husband from the retired school bus he had refurbished into a car hauler/camper, so his girls could also be there to cheer him on. When she was home, she made the best pies, “Mema” or “Grandma’s” rolls and Jell-O cakes for birthdays and special occasions.
Annetta had a close bond with her sisters, Betty, Joan and Pam. It was always a special time when they were together with lots of laughs, fun and memories created and shared.
She loved her children, but Annetta absolutely adored her grandchildren. She’d drop everything to spend time with Chantal, Eddie, Alli, Claire, Wesley, Hope and Owen. If there was a way to make a sporting event or school activity, Annetta would find it . . . in addition to making sure it found its way into the newspaper. Annetta loved meeting her first great-grandchild, Ricki Joe and would have loved the chance to spend time adoring both of her great-grandchildren. Proud doesn’t begin to describe her feelings for her grandkids and her greats.
In later years, Annetta found a church home at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Hampton, and she called it the right place for her at the right time.
She didn’t have a mean bone in her body, and what her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends will always remember is that Annetta had the sweetest demeanor. Few, if any, can remember ever seeing her angry.
Her pies, special rolls and Jell-O cakes will be missed, but more than anything, those who knew and cherished Annetta will miss the unconditional love she gave them.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Earl “Buster” Katz of New Hampton; three daughters, Brenda (Jeff) Hanna of Clear Lake, Iowa, Cindy (Kent) Christensen of Keller, Texas and Dawn (Billy Edar) Katz of Elma, Iowa; one son, Joshua (Jessica) Katz of Kernersville, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Chantal (Matthew Glenn) Denner, Eddie (Emma) Denner, Claire Christensen, Alli Denner, Wesley Christensen, Hope Katz and Owen Katz; two great-grandchildren, Ricki Joe Glenn and James Carol Denner; three sisters, Betty (Gary) Cleveland of Thornton, Iowa, Joan Sebastian of Cresco and Pam Darland of Cresco. 
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother-in-law, Wayne Sebastian; and nephew, Kyle Darland.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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