Catherine Wodele — Wabasha

Catherine A. "Katie" Wodele, 96, of Wabasha, died Tuesday (June 21, 2016) at St. Elizabeth's Nursing Home in Wabasha with her son, Eugene, at her side.

She was born Dec. 23, 1919, in Highland Township of Wabasha County, one of nine children born to Nicholas and Agnes (Norton) Klees. She was a graduate of Kellogg High School. Before marriage, she worked as a nanny for a local family and a doctor's family in Rochester. She married Ralph Wodele on Oct. 7, 1940, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Conception, rural Kellogg. Catherine was the bookkeeper for her husband's Mobil Oil bulk oil distributing business. She later managed for several years the clubhouse and kitchen for the Coffee Mill Golf Course in Wabasha. After retirement, she and her husband spent the winter months in Arizona. Ralph died on May 5, 2003.

Katie was a faithful member of St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha and an active member of its Council of Catholic Women. Her Catholic faith was extremely important to her and it showed in all facets of her life. She was also a member of the Wabasha American Legion Post 50 Auxiliary and the Burkhardt-Roemer VFW Post 4086 Auxiliary. Katie was an avid reader and she loved playing cards, especially bridge. She also enjoyed baking and sewing. In their younger years, she and Ralph loved to dance. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family.

She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Pat and Dr. Joe Gasik of Minneapolis, and Lori and Tom Cashman of Red Wing; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Rosanne Wodele of Wabasha, Denny and Pat Wodele of Pepin, Wis., and Eugene Wodele of Wabasha; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; brother, Paul Klees of Wabasha; nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, parents, Nick and Agnes Klees, brothers, Lester, Francis, Bob and Jim Klees, and sisters, Loretta Eversman, Eleanor Gessner and Rosella Klees.

A funeral Mass will be offered on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha, with the Rev. Monsignor Robert Meyer officiating. Interment will be at St. Felix Cemetery. Casket bearers and honorary bearers will be her grandchildren.

Family and friends may call at the Abbott Funeral Home on Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday one hour before the Mass.

Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth's Community Development Foundation, 1200 5th Grant Blvd. W., Wabasha, MN 55981 or to St. Felix Catholic School 130 3rd St. E., Wabasha, MN 55981.

The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha is in charge of arrangements.