Kathleen Anne Thompson

Kathleen “Kate” Anne Thompson, daughter of Claude Lawrence and Katherine (Mahoney) Thompson, was born on June 20, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She entered into eternal rest on November 23, 2024, at the Shenandoah Medical Center at the age of 73 years, 6 months, and 3 days.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. February 8 at the Nishna Valley Funeral Home, 405 W. Thomas Ave., in Shenandoah. Memorial checks can be made payable to Estate of Kathleen A. Thompson and mailed to Newton News or call 641-792-3121 for the address.

The early part of Kate’s life was spent living in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and Champaign – Urbana, Illinois. She attended Glenbard West High School and graduated with the Class of 1969. Kate later attended Briar Cliff University and graduated with her bachelor’s degree in 1994.

In the summer of 1972, Kate was united in marriage to George Wissmiller at the First Presbyterian Church in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The couple resided in Champaign, Illinois, after the marriage and later divorced in 1981.

During her life, Kate had many wonderful jobs doing what she loved. She was part of the WJCT TV staff, a freelance writer for Metropolis which also published her romance serial; and she hosted WOKV Radio’s 60′s “Affairs of the Air”. Kate was also a reporter for the Clinton Herald in Clinton, Iowa, and a legislative reporter for the Sioux City Journal as well as publisher of the Valley News and did sales for the Newton News. A great accomplishment of Kate’s was founding Holly’s Hope in Shenandoah, Iowa. She was also a member of the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

Kate’s passions were food and writing. She loved to cook for herself but especially for others. She believed in helping others and that was why she founded Holly’s Hope. Kate also loved anything that had to do with gnomes and dragons.

Preceding her in death were her mother, Katherine M. Thompson; and her sister, Macia Lynn Thompson. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Tamyra Harrison (Wissmiller) and son-in-law, Paul Harrison of Altoona, Iowa; son, Lee Wissmiller and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Wissmiller of Houston, Texas; grandson, Mont Corbin and wife Gracie Corbin of Colfax, Iowa; two great grandchildren, Barrett and Ivy Corbin of Colfax, Iowa; brother, Mike Thompson of Hawaii; other relatives and friends.