Kate Carl, 89, of Greenfield

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Greenfield United Methodist Church with burial in the Greenfield Cemetery.  A luncheon will be held at the church following the burial. Pastor Melinda Stonebraker will officiate the service.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation:  Will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials:  Memorials may be directed to the Kate Carl Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

      Kathryn “Kate” Cleone Strong Carl was born December 7, 1933, in Southwest Adair County, Iowa, to Floyd and Bessie (Stewart) Strong.  She passed away on Friday, June 23, 2023, at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Greenfield, Iowa, at the age of 89.
   Kate attended school in Bridgewater and Fontanelle, participating in band and basketball in high school.  She graduated in 1951 from Fontanelle High School.
   One evening in 1950, she met the man of her life while he was driving around the Fontanelle square.  He asked her out that night and on a date soon thereafter, she proceeded to light a cigarette.  His response to this was, “Either you put that out or get out.”  She obviously put the cigarette out.  They married on April 1, 1951 after a proposal she received in the mail while he was on a fishing trip with the guys and she and Bruce spent the next 68 years together.
   Bruce soon joined the Army.  He was stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and Kate went along.  They traveled back to Greenfield for the delivery of the first of their eight kids, Ronda, followed by Sandy, Linda, Roy, Ruth, Ed, Di and Roger.  This all occurred in just over ten years.  During this time, they farmed in Grove and Walnut townships.
   Kate was always doing her share of the chores.  When Bruce went to work on bridge construction, she took over the chores until he came home on the weekends.
   They lived in Lenox and Grove township before buying their home in Casey.  While in Casey, Kate worked various jobs, including Look Magazine, many restaurants and lastly Cardinal Glass in Greenfield, from where she retired and lived since 1978.  She then spent time traveling with Bruce to his construction sites.
   They enjoyed all of their many friends.  A couple of those times they proved to be lifesaving.  Shoveling snow over a mile to get Kate to the hospital to deliver Ed.  LaVonne found her one day being tromped by a cow and saved her from tragedy.
   You never knew what was going to happen next with her.  She’s been noted to forget kids at home.  If she counted and hit 8, she had enough, not remembering that she had extra kids’ friends along.  (If you’d like more info on her, just ask any of the kids.  They would be happy to share the tales of life about their mom!)
   Her most enjoyable moments were with friends and family.  You might come into her home as a stranger, but leave as family.  She was happiest when being called Grandma Kate or Mom.  She enjoyed playing cards, bowling, camping, attending and hosting home parties and going to the casino.  She would also go coon hunting, just to be with Bruce.
   She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bruce; son, Ed; granddaughter, Shelly Wheatly, daughter-in-law, Roxanne Miller; sons-in-law, Kenneth Gebbie, Sr., Mark Lundberg and Doug Campbell; grandson-in-law, Tim Wilson; parents-in-law, Walter and Ocia Carl; sister and brother-in-law, Vera and Darwin Weaver; brother, Charles Strong; brother-in-law, Jim Wolfe; sister-in-law, Lydia Strong; and sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Arnold Christensen.
      She is survived by her two sons, Roy Carl of Fontanelle and Roger Carl of Stuart; five daughters, Ronda Benge (Pat) of Greenfield, Sandy Lundberg of Des Moines, Linda Stewart (Eric) of Greenfield, Ruth Eilts (Marlo Smith) of Massena and Di Mensing (Bruce) of Greenfield; daughter-in-law, Mindee Thompson (Terry) of Greenfield; 22 grandchildren; 58 great grandchildren; 7 great great grandchildren; two brothers, Don Strong (Pat) of Shreveport, LA and Marvin “Dean” Strong of Marion, Texas; three sisters, Nadine Avey (Chuck) of Stuart, Margaret Wolfe of Marshalltown and Joyce Crabb of Coshocton, Ohio; a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.