Katherine M. Harms, 81, of Adams died at the Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011.

She was born on June 18, 1930, at her parents' rural Adams farm and was baptized on Aug. 2, 1930, at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell. She attended Little John Country School. On June 16, 1946, she was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church.

She married Edward H. Harms on Aug. 20, 1950 ,at Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell and they lived and farmed northeast of Pickrell until 1972. They then purchased and moved to the farmstead just east of their original home. In 2000, they moved into Adams. She worked for several years at the Pickrell Locker, Farmland and Gold Crest Retirement Center. She also volunteered at Gold Crest.

She was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church of rural Pickrell and was currently a member of the American Lutheran Church of Adams. Katherine always helped with chores, loved animals, the outdoors, being a farm wife and was a loving mother. She enjoyed having her children and grandchildren come home and called them "special company." She also enjoyed crotcheting, painting tea towels, gardening, canning, baking and making candy, especially peanut brittle.

Survivors include two sons, Gary Harms and wife Carol of Cortland and Dennis Harms and wife Diane of Adams; four grandchildren, Kerry Kotas and husband Mike, Kim Alm and husband Jerry, Chad Harms and wife Toni and Chris Harms; six great-grandchildren, Michael and Megan Tinsley, Christian Harms, and Connor, Tessa and Brenna Harms; one sister, Frances Baker of Lincoln; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Rademacher, Rachel Wentz, Betty Lou Parde and husband Heye, Dorothy Ideus, Alberta Monroe, Marge Parde and husband Melvin and Katie Harms; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lubbe F. and Ella Baumfalk Rademacher; her husband, Edward who died on July 18, 2008; five brothers, Hickee, Dick, Hick and wife Katie, Lubbe and Fritz Rademacher and wife Lena; one sister, Meta Riensche and husband George; sister-in-law Elaine Monroe and husband Orville; brothers-in-law Cecil Baker, Ray Harms, Lavern Monroe, Albert Ideus and Ernie Wentz.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at the American Lutheran Church of Adams with Pastor William Dressen officiating. Burial will be at the Highland Cemetery of Adams. A family prayer service will be held at 12:45 p.m. Saturday in the fellowship room at the church. A memorial has been established to the American Lutheran Church and Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams with Ernest and Janice Jurgens in charge. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice on Thursday from noon until 9 p.m., then at the Fox Funeral Home of Adams on Friday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and at the church one hour preceding the service on Saturday.