Funeral services for Katherine Amsberg, 93, of Olathe, KS, formerly of Davenport, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Cunnick-Collins Mortuary chapel in Davenport. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Amsberg passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Homestead of Olathe Care Center.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1920 in LaSalle, IL. She was the first of five daughters born to Hugh and Catherine Orr, a highly respected medical doctor and chief surgeon and his pretty young wife. Most of Katherine's childhood was spent in the public eye since her father was also the mayor of LaSalle most of her early years. She remembered it being a fun and active household. It got even busier when her mother's sister passed away and Hugh and Catherine accepted her two daughters into their family as well. Seven young girls created a whirlwind of activity and happy little girl chatter.
Katherine was always talented in domestic skills, and could remember as a young girl hurrying home from school to make dinner for her family. She was an excellent student, served as a lifeguard at the high school, and was very talented in needlework of all kinds. She could sew, knit, crochet, crewel, embroider, and just about any hand work she'd put her mind to. Her hands were never still but always busy on some project.
While a senior in high school she went to work on a class project with a classmate at her home and got an added bonus – she met her future husband, William Amsberg. Bill and Katherine began dating and both families felt they were a fine match. After graduating from high school Katherine began working at Westclox assembling watches until her marriage to Bill in February of 1942. At that time, it was expected that married women would not work outside the home and she had to leave Westclox after her wedding.
Bill had the unfortunate luck to be among the first married men drafted into the army in 1942. Shortly after being drafted, Bill and Katherine learned they were expecting their first child. The army allowed Bill to stay with her until the baby was born, but he had to leave for the service the week after his first daughter was born. Katherine and the baby moved back into the very busy childhood home where they could both be with family and also be close to a doctor in case they needed medical care.
Katherine lived her entire life dedicated to her family and making a pleasant and cozy home. She did everything in her power to help them all. Over the next eight years, Bill and Katherine had three more daughters. Katherine took great pride in turning out well-mannered children, scrubbed and starched, that Bill would be proud of. When the budget was tight, she would go to the big department stores and study the little girl's dresses. She'd then go home and duplicate them, making sure her girls looked as good as any of the other kids. She kept an immaculate home, and if Bill needed help at work she would pitch in there as well. She was known as an excellent cook, and her pies were often requested at pot lucks and neighborhood gatherings. Later in life when Bill took ill, she spent years nursing him and making him as comfortable as possible. Even now, nineteen years after his death, she believed Bill was the love of her life and still felt grateful for the years they had together.
Once her children were grown and out of the house, Katherine struggled to fill her time. She started making alterations for her friends, and pretty soon had a lucrative side business altering or making clothes for people who struggled to find well-fitting clothes off the rack. She also invested much more time in a life-time interest of raising African violets. She joined the African Violet Society, and even taught classes on the proper care of the delicate plants, including splitting or repotting them to keep them healthy. Her other great passion in life was quilting, and Katherine produced a number of heirloom quality patched and hand stitched quilts.
After Bill's death in 1992, Katherine lived alone in her Davenport home for 15 years. Since she never learned to drive, getting around became more and more difficult. Then nearly four years ago she had a terrible fall that left her with a broken hip. Her inability to get around made it impossible to live alone any longer and none of her children were close enough to help her out effectively. So Katherine took a big step, sold her house, and moved to Kansas to be near her youngest daughter. She enjoyed talking about family stories, and learning new things about her nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Those left to honor her memory include her four Daughters: Judy (Keith) Kankel of Unoin, MI, Lynn (Tom) Scharfenberg of Madison, AL, Dianne (Will) Smith of Omaha, NE, Janet (Russ) Lindsay of Overland Park, KS; two Sisters: Ruth Panzica of Belvidere, IL, Nancy Sterne of Hampstead, NC; a Brother-in-Law: Francis Krolak of Edgerton, WI; 9 Grandchildren, 20 Great-grandchildren, 1 Great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Orr and Joan Krolak.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1920 in LaSalle, IL. She was the first of five daughters born to Hugh and Catherine Orr, a highly respected medical doctor and chief surgeon and his pretty young wife. Most of Katherine's childhood was spent in the public eye since her father was also the mayor of LaSalle most of her early years. She remembered it being a fun and active household. It got even busier when her mother's sister passed away and Hugh and Catherine accepted her two daughters into their family as well. Seven young girls created a whirlwind of activity and happy little girl chatter.
Katherine was always talented in domestic skills, and could remember as a young girl hurrying home from school to make dinner for her family. She was an excellent student, served as a lifeguard at the high school, and was very talented in needlework of all kinds. She could sew, knit, crochet, crewel, embroider, and just about any hand work she'd put her mind to. Her hands were never still but always busy on some project.
While a senior in high school she went to work on a class project with a classmate at her home and got an added bonus – she met her future husband, William Amsberg. Bill and Katherine began dating and both families felt they were a fine match. After graduating from high school Katherine began working at Westclox assembling watches until her marriage to Bill in February of 1942. At that time, it was expected that married women would not work outside the home and she had to leave Westclox after her wedding.
Bill had the unfortunate luck to be among the first married men drafted into the army in 1942. Shortly after being drafted, Bill and Katherine learned they were expecting their first child. The army allowed Bill to stay with her until the baby was born, but he had to leave for the service the week after his first daughter was born. Katherine and the baby moved back into the very busy childhood home where they could both be with family and also be close to a doctor in case they needed medical care.
Katherine lived her entire life dedicated to her family and making a pleasant and cozy home. She did everything in her power to help them all. Over the next eight years, Bill and Katherine had three more daughters. Katherine took great pride in turning out well-mannered children, scrubbed and starched, that Bill would be proud of. When the budget was tight, she would go to the big department stores and study the little girl's dresses. She'd then go home and duplicate them, making sure her girls looked as good as any of the other kids. She kept an immaculate home, and if Bill needed help at work she would pitch in there as well. She was known as an excellent cook, and her pies were often requested at pot lucks and neighborhood gatherings. Later in life when Bill took ill, she spent years nursing him and making him as comfortable as possible. Even now, nineteen years after his death, she believed Bill was the love of her life and still felt grateful for the years they had together.
Once her children were grown and out of the house, Katherine struggled to fill her time. She started making alterations for her friends, and pretty soon had a lucrative side business altering or making clothes for people who struggled to find well-fitting clothes off the rack. She also invested much more time in a life-time interest of raising African violets. She joined the African Violet Society, and even taught classes on the proper care of the delicate plants, including splitting or repotting them to keep them healthy. Her other great passion in life was quilting, and Katherine produced a number of heirloom quality patched and hand stitched quilts.
After Bill's death in 1992, Katherine lived alone in her Davenport home for 15 years. Since she never learned to drive, getting around became more and more difficult. Then nearly four years ago she had a terrible fall that left her with a broken hip. Her inability to get around made it impossible to live alone any longer and none of her children were close enough to help her out effectively. So Katherine took a big step, sold her house, and moved to Kansas to be near her youngest daughter. She enjoyed talking about family stories, and learning new things about her nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Those left to honor her memory include her four Daughters: Judy (Keith) Kankel of Unoin, MI, Lynn (Tom) Scharfenberg of Madison, AL, Dianne (Will) Smith of Omaha, NE, Janet (Russ) Lindsay of Overland Park, KS; two Sisters: Ruth Panzica of Belvidere, IL, Nancy Sterne of Hampstead, NC; a Brother-in-Law: Francis Krolak of Edgerton, WI; 9 Grandchildren, 20 Great-grandchildren, 1 Great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Orr and Joan Krolak.
Funeral services for Katherine Amsberg, 93, of Olathe, KS, formerly of Davenport, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Cunnick-Collins Mortuary chapel in Davenport. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment will be at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Amsberg passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Homestead of Olathe Care Center.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1920 in LaSalle, IL. She was the first of five daughters born to Hugh and Catherine Orr, a highly respected medical doctor and chief surgeon and his pretty young wife. Most of Katherine's childhood was spent in the public eye since her father was also the mayor of LaSalle most of her early years. She remembered it being a fun and active household. It got even busier when her mother's sister passed away and Hugh and Catherine accepted her two daughters into their family as well. Seven young girls created a whirlwind of activity and happy little girl chatter.
Katherine was always talented in domestic skills, and could remember as a young girl hurrying home from school to make dinner for her family. She was an excellent student, served as a lifeguard at the high school, and was very talented in needlework of all kinds. She could sew, knit, crochet, crewel, embroider, and just about any hand work she'd put her mind to. Her hands were never still but always busy on some project.
While a senior in high school she went to work on a class project with a classmate at her home and got an added bonus – she met her future husband, William Amsberg. Bill and Katherine began dating and both families felt they were a fine match. After graduating from high school Katherine began working at Westclox assembling watches until her marriage to Bill in February of 1942. At that time, it was expected that married women would not work outside the home and she had to leave Westclox after her wedding.
Bill had the unfortunate luck to be among the first married men drafted into the army in 1942. Shortly after being drafted, Bill and Katherine learned they were expecting their first child. The army allowed Bill to stay with her until the baby was born, but he had to leave for the service the week after his first daughter was born. Katherine and the baby moved back into the very busy childhood home where they could both be with family and also be close to a doctor in case they needed medical care.
Katherine lived her entire life dedicated to her family and making a pleasant and cozy home. She did everything in her power to help them all. Over the next eight years, Bill and Katherine had three more daughters. Katherine took great pride in turning out well-mannered children, scrubbed and starched, that Bill would be proud of. When the budget was tight, she would go to the big department stores and study the little girl's dresses. She'd then go home and duplicate them, making sure her girls looked as good as any of the other kids. She kept an immaculate home, and if Bill needed help at work she would pitch in there as well. She was known as an excellent cook, and her pies were often requested at pot lucks and neighborhood gatherings. Later in life when Bill took ill, she spent years nursing him and making him as comfortable as possible. Even now, nineteen years after his death, she believed Bill was the love of her life and still felt grateful for the years they had together.
Once her children were grown and out of the house, Katherine struggled to fill her time. She started making alterations for her friends, and pretty soon had a lucrative side business altering or making clothes for people who struggled to find well-fitting clothes off the rack. She also invested much more time in a life-time interest of raising African violets. She joined the African Violet Society, and even taught classes on the proper care of the delicate plants, including splitting or repotting them to keep them healthy. Her other great passion in life was quilting, and Katherine produced a number of heirloom quality patched and hand stitched quilts.
After Bill's death in 1992, Katherine lived alone in her Davenport home for 15 years. Since she never learned to drive, getting around became more and more difficult. Then nearly four years ago she had a terrible fall that left her with a broken hip. Her inability to get around made it impossible to live alone any longer and none of her children were close enough to help her out effectively. So Katherine took a big step, sold her house, and moved to Kansas to be near her youngest daughter. She enjoyed talking about family stories, and learning new things about her nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Those left to honor her memory include her four Daughters: Judy (Keith) Kankel of Unoin, MI, Lynn (Tom) Scharfenberg of Madison, AL, Dianne (Will) Smith of Omaha, NE, Janet (Russ) Lindsay of Overland Park, KS; two Sisters: Ruth Panzica of Belvidere, IL, Nancy Sterne of Hampstead, NC; a Brother-in-Law: Francis Krolak of Edgerton, WI; 9 Grandchildren, 20 Great-grandchildren, 1 Great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Orr and Joan Krolak.
Katherine was born on March 8, 1920 in LaSalle, IL. She was the first of five daughters born to Hugh and Catherine Orr, a highly respected medical doctor and chief surgeon and his pretty young wife. Most of Katherine's childhood was spent in the public eye since her father was also the mayor of LaSalle most of her early years. She remembered it being a fun and active household. It got even busier when her mother's sister passed away and Hugh and Catherine accepted her two daughters into their family as well. Seven young girls created a whirlwind of activity and happy little girl chatter.
Katherine was always talented in domestic skills, and could remember as a young girl hurrying home from school to make dinner for her family. She was an excellent student, served as a lifeguard at the high school, and was very talented in needlework of all kinds. She could sew, knit, crochet, crewel, embroider, and just about any hand work she'd put her mind to. Her hands were never still but always busy on some project.
While a senior in high school she went to work on a class project with a classmate at her home and got an added bonus – she met her future husband, William Amsberg. Bill and Katherine began dating and both families felt they were a fine match. After graduating from high school Katherine began working at Westclox assembling watches until her marriage to Bill in February of 1942. At that time, it was expected that married women would not work outside the home and she had to leave Westclox after her wedding.
Bill had the unfortunate luck to be among the first married men drafted into the army in 1942. Shortly after being drafted, Bill and Katherine learned they were expecting their first child. The army allowed Bill to stay with her until the baby was born, but he had to leave for the service the week after his first daughter was born. Katherine and the baby moved back into the very busy childhood home where they could both be with family and also be close to a doctor in case they needed medical care.
Katherine lived her entire life dedicated to her family and making a pleasant and cozy home. She did everything in her power to help them all. Over the next eight years, Bill and Katherine had three more daughters. Katherine took great pride in turning out well-mannered children, scrubbed and starched, that Bill would be proud of. When the budget was tight, she would go to the big department stores and study the little girl's dresses. She'd then go home and duplicate them, making sure her girls looked as good as any of the other kids. She kept an immaculate home, and if Bill needed help at work she would pitch in there as well. She was known as an excellent cook, and her pies were often requested at pot lucks and neighborhood gatherings. Later in life when Bill took ill, she spent years nursing him and making him as comfortable as possible. Even now, nineteen years after his death, she believed Bill was the love of her life and still felt grateful for the years they had together.
Once her children were grown and out of the house, Katherine struggled to fill her time. She started making alterations for her friends, and pretty soon had a lucrative side business altering or making clothes for people who struggled to find well-fitting clothes off the rack. She also invested much more time in a life-time interest of raising African violets. She joined the African Violet Society, and even taught classes on the proper care of the delicate plants, including splitting or repotting them to keep them healthy. Her other great passion in life was quilting, and Katherine produced a number of heirloom quality patched and hand stitched quilts.
After Bill's death in 1992, Katherine lived alone in her Davenport home for 15 years. Since she never learned to drive, getting around became more and more difficult. Then nearly four years ago she had a terrible fall that left her with a broken hip. Her inability to get around made it impossible to live alone any longer and none of her children were close enough to help her out effectively. So Katherine took a big step, sold her house, and moved to Kansas to be near her youngest daughter. She enjoyed talking about family stories, and learning new things about her nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Those left to honor her memory include her four Daughters: Judy (Keith) Kankel of Unoin, MI, Lynn (Tom) Scharfenberg of Madison, AL, Dianne (Will) Smith of Omaha, NE, Janet (Russ) Lindsay of Overland Park, KS; two Sisters: Ruth Panzica of Belvidere, IL, Nancy Sterne of Hampstead, NC; a Brother-in-Law: Francis Krolak of Edgerton, WI; 9 Grandchildren, 20 Great-grandchildren, 1 Great-great-grandchild.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Jane Orr and Joan Krolak.
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