Kathryn "Kate" Urell
Kathryn “Kate” A. Urell, 82, of Waukon died Monday, May 4, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, May 8 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Sevcik officiating.
Burial was at St. John The Baptist - West Ridge Cemetery, in rural Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled the arrangements.
Kathryn Ann Urell was born August 14, 1943, in Waukon, the daughter of Floyd and Florence (Wild) Waters. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin and attended Clear Creek School in Union City Township until 8th grade. Kate graduated from Waukon High School in 1961.
October 14, 1961, she married James “Tony” Urell at St. Joseph Catholic Church in New Albin. Kate worked at Allamakee School District for a few years. She then stayed home to raise her children until they were old enough to go to school. Kate then worked at Northern Engraving until it closed in 2008, she then worked in the lunch program at the Waukon Schools.
Kate was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, the Patterson Creek Social Club and belonged to a couple of card clubs at the Waukon Wellness Center. Family was the center of Kate’s life and she found the greatest joy in spending time with loved ones. She also enjoyed playing cards, especially euchre, quilting, baking and attending social events.
In 1989, Kate and Tony invited the Fahey kids into the family when their parents passed away. They have been a big part of the Urell family ever since. Kate enjoyed many adventures with the Faheys.
Survivors include her children: Dale (Kelly) Urell, Ed (Denise Beisker) Urell, Linda (Dan) Ryan, Perry (Peggy Sivesind) Fahey, Eileen (Duane “Woody”) Wood, and Maureen (Andy Schlitter) Fahey, all of Waukon, and Nancy Fahey of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren: Ian (Allison) Urell, Devin (Heidi) Ryan, Sarah (Brandon Schuttemeier) Ryan, Claire (Tristan Brainard) Urell, Cassey (Cody) Zidlicky, Megan (Ben Selvig) Fahey, and Meika Fahey; four great-grandchildren: Walker, Noah, and Marri Urell, and Reese Ryan; her siblings: Mary Fink, Jim (Dorothy) Waters, Harold (Carol) Waters, Tom (Mary Jo) Waters, Jean Gavin, and Ray (Jess) Waters; a sister-in-law, Sarah Drew; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Florence Waters; her husband, James “Tony,” who died in 2019; her father- and mother-in-law, Tom and Ethel Urell; an infant daughter; two sons, Tom Urell and Darrell Fahey; her sister Joann and husband Jim Schwartzhoff; three brothers-in-law, Occo Fink, John (Lela) Urell, and Donnie Drew; two sisters-in-law, Mary (Ralph) Brandt and Judy (Howard) Sorum; and several nieces and nephews.
Honorary casketbearers were Bernard and Eileen Berns, Charlie and Ann Byrnes, Kate and Todd Curtin, and the Patterson Creek Social Club. Casketbearers were Ian Urell, Brandon Schuttemeier, Cody Zidlicky, Dan and Devin Ryan, Tristan Brainard, Perry Fahey, and Bryan Berns.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
