Kathleen Altena

Kathleen Altena, 92, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at the Friendly Horizons Memory Care in Sioux Center.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:30 PM Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Carmel Reformed Church of rural Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. Mike Altena officiating.  Interment will be held prior to the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.   The video will be live streamed on the Carmel Reformed Church FACEBOOK page: https://www.facebook.com/carmelreformedchurch

Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Monday evening, January 9, 2023, at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

The Altena family prefers memorials be directed to Friendly Horizons Memory Care. 

Kathleen Marie (Franken) Altena was born October 26, 1930, to Gerrit H Franken and Gertie (Bosch) Franken near Sioux Center, Iowa. She attended country school and completed her education at Sioux Center High School.

Kathleen married Wilmer Altena in Sioux Center on January 18, 1950. They made their home in Carmel, Iowa until June of 1988. They enjoyed traveling and attending events like the state basketball tournaments in Des Moines and the Bible Conference at the lakes until Wilmer passed away in 2003.

Kathleen moved several times after Wilmer’s death. Most recently her home was in Friendly Horizons in Sioux Center, a place where she found real community and loving care. She is fondly remembered by her caretakers as the woman who rose before dawn and always held a steaming cup of coffee – never quite hot enough or strong enough to suit her.

Kathleen held several jobs during her younger years. Primarily, church secretary work for the Carmel Reformed Church, housekeeping, and teaching piano lessons to nearly every child in Carmel. She loved the Carmel Church and the Carmel family and was very involved while she was a member there. She played organ and piano, sang in the Carmel women’s quartet, and taught Bible and Sunday School. Kathleen loved children and never missed an opportunity to be with them.

Kathleen had a beautiful servant’s heart. She volunteered as a mentor for Friendship Bible Study and Hospice for many years. She enjoyed walking and talking. And when her sister Louise was alive, they spent hours together doing just that. Losing her sister was a tremendous loss for Kathleen.

Kathleen also loved music. Without fail she called her kids and grandkids on their birthdays and sang them the entire “Happy Birthday” song. She loved flowers and gardening and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the garden or anywhere else. Kathleen was also a woman of great faith. She truly “prayed without ceasing” and continually “meditated on God’s Word.” She leaves behind a Bible filled with notations, highlights, and underlines. Kathleen loved the Lord deeply and her family is confident that she is eternally singing and playing music in His presence – probably with a cup of coffee that is finally hot enough and strong enough to leave her completely satisfied and at perfect peace.

Kathleen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Deb and Elson Schut of Sioux Center; her son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Sandi Altena of Sioux Center; and her son and daughter-in-law, Dave and Kelly Altena of Sacramento, California; 12 grandchildren, Aaron Lubach, Joe Lubach, Amber Mork, Katelyn Smit, Courtney Sandbulte, Dusty Altena, Mic Altena, Jaime Van Kley, Niki Woockman, Mark Altena, Som Altena, and Kaida Altena.

Kathleen was proceeded in death by her parents, nine siblings, her husband Wilmer, her daughter, Rose and her infant daughter, Kathy.