Kathleen Gunderson, 82, Owatonna
Kathleen Mary Gunderson, 82, of Owatonna, died peacefully at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Kathy was born May 29, 1942, in Owatonna, to Earl and Anna (Carlson) Patten. She grew up in Medford and was active in the marching band and served as accompanist for the school choir and editor of the school newspaper at Medford High School. She graduated as valedictorian of her class.
After high school, she married James Horak, and they started a family on the Horak family farm in rural Medford. Kathy worked at Josten’s and OTC early in her career, moving to Owatonna after her divorce, where she continued raising her young children and working. She then worked at Wickes Lumber Company, where she was required to attend a Dale Carnegie course on “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and it was there that she met the love of her life, James Gunderson.
Kathy and Jim were married on Dec. 5, 1976, in Owatonna. A few years later, they welcomed their first child to complete their blended family. During their 48 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling the world together, especially cruises, trips to Europe, and motorcycle trips across the U.S. They also simply loved to spend together, hosting a family gathering, movie nights with popcorn, or watching a Twins or Vikings game together. Kathy had a deep faith in Jesus that anchored her life. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Owatonna for more than 50 years, serving there in many ways. Kathy had a quick sense of humor and a knack for adventure. She loved to cook, read, and sew. She was an excellent seamstress and spent many hours in her sewing room. Kathy persevered through two battles with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, first in 1991 and a second time in 1997, when she had a bone marrow transplant. In 2016, her beloved Jim donated a kidney to her, and they came through a successful kidney transplant, which sustained her to the end. Kathy spent the majority of her career at Viracon, where she held several roles but retired as Production Scheduler. She loved her co-workers and took pride in her many years of perfect attendance and 26 years with the company. Of all the things Kathy enjoyed in life, it was her faith and family she loved most. Kathy loved being a wife and mother. Her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She remembered every birthday, anniversary, milestone and hallmark important to them. She almost never missed an event, showing up at everything from volleyball and soccer to basketball and lacrosse games, school plays, concerts, awards ceremonies, and even dirt biking trips. She often traveled to different states to attend graduations, weddings, and major life events. Kathy welcomed everyone with open arms, love, and a listening ear, always supporting her
family and friends with her genuine love and kindness. Kathy’s sweet, but courageous spirit, and her ability to love and give without condition will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband Jim of Owatonna; children Todd (Christine) Horak of Colorado Springs, Brenda (Bruce) Reiland of Minnesota City, Robert Horak of Fort Myers, Fla., Pamela (Jacob) Williams of Owatonna, Rebecca (Willie, Jr.) Moore of Owatonna; grandchildren Stephanie Cash, Kari (Jeff) Krieger, Jessica (Aaron) Byram, TJ Horak, Aaron Gleason, Lisa (Eric) Flatten, Katelyn (Matthew) Wimer, Jacob Sylvara, Audrey Williams, Claire Williams, Jasmine (Alex) Keith, Jadyn Gunderson, Janessa Moore, Willie Moore III, Jayna Moore, and 20 great-grandchildren; siblings Alden “Bud” Patten of Waseca and Lois Danks of Waltham; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Anne Gunderson and Paul Dunlap of Florida; along with several cherished nieces and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marjorie Patten, and grandson Frederick Hein. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 14, 2025, at Grace Baptist Church in Owatonna. Visitation is Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna, and one hour prior to the funeral service at Grace Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Kathy can be sent to the Gift of Life Transplant House in Rochester, MN or the Lymphoma Foundation of America.