Kathleen Mary Spaeth age 69, of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota died on January 21, 2023, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 3:30 to 7:00 PM at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with Parish Prayers at 3:30 PM. Visitation will continue on Thursday beginning at 9:00 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye in the North Entrance with Christian Mothers leading the Rosary at 10:30 AM in the church, everyone is invited to attend.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye, on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 11:00 AM.
The clergy will be Father Mark Steffl. Interment will be at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye.
Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to San Lucas Guatemala Mission Coffee Program via www.juananacoffee.org.
Kathleen Mary Moran was born on December 19, 1953, to Murland “Moe” and Sylvia (Loftness) Moran in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. She was the oldest of 5 siblings and grew up in Sleepy Eye. Part of her childhood was lived with her family in “Little St. Mary’s,” a home that stood where the parking lot of St. Mary’s church is now set. She graduated from St. Mary’s School in 1972. Kathy went on to study nursing at St. Mary’s College in Minneapolis. She returned to Sleepy Eye and was dedicated to her work as a registered nurse at the hospital. Kathy and Chuck Spaeth were married on July 5, 1975, at St. Mary’s Church. Faith, family, travel and friends were part of their marriage from the very beginning. They welcomed four daughters into the world. Kathy excelled at everything she set out to do, and motherhood was one of these things. She was detailed, smart, and thorough, while at the same time was loving and creative and fun. Some of her special commitments including volunteering with the Council of Catholic Women, Minnesota Citizens Concerned For Life, Christian Mothers, and making time for countless contributions to St. Mary’s parish and school. When Chuck and Kathy acquired the Ford dealership in 1985 Kathy shifted gears from nursing to accounting. She did most of her work when the girls were at school or sleeping. She and Chuck continued to work together for all of these years. It was said that Kathy’s name was the one who should really be on the building, as she did such an incredible job of keeping things organized and growing their business. In 2004 they welcomed their first grandchild and were so very proud to see that number grow to 26 grandchildren this past year. Kathy was the best grandma; so proud of her grandchildren, so generous of her time with them, and so thoughtful with gifts for them. Long before it was popular, Grandma Kathy began the tradition of gifting her grandchildren matching Christmas pajamas and still did it this last Christmas for all 26! Above all, Kathy’s most significant legacy was passing along the treasure of her Catholic faith to her daughters and grandchildren. Her love for Chuck was beautiful and selfless. The hope she had in Christ was made evident by the way she lived and up to the moment of her final breath. Kathleen died on January 21, 2023, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital.
Kathleen will be deeply missed by her husband of 47 years, Chuck; her daughters and their families: Laura and David Fischer, Thomas, Maria, Terese, Matthew, Grace, Charles, Henry, Audrey, and Felicity of Woodbury, MN; Rachel and Joseph Snyder, Noah, Charlotte, Lucy, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jude and Jonathan of Woodbridge, VA; Amanda and Craig Murphy, Kiara, William, Max, Maya, Oliver, and Ivy of Sleepy Eye, MN; Mary and Erik Olson, Theodore, Louis, Margaret, and George of Waconia, MN; siblings: Bill Moran, Jane Cook, Sheila LaPlant, Mary Beth and George Heim; mother-in-law Delores Spaeth; and many other loving relatives, friends and the Ford family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Murland “Moe” and Sylvia Moran; father-in-law, Sylvester Spaeth; and brothers-in-law, Marcus LaPlant and Jeff Cook.