Katherine Donnelly

Katherine Irene Donnelly Passed away on October 4, 2025. A visitation will be held at Saint Augustin's Catholic Church (545 42nd St, Des Moines, IA 50312) from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A funeral mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Blank Children’s Hospital.

Katherine Irene Donnelly passed away peacefully on October 4, 2025, on her 86th birthday, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was the third of four children of Bill and Irene Moorehead born on October 4, 1939, in Mason City, Iowa.

Katherine (Kay) received her education at Mason City High School, graduating with the Class of 1957. On June 13, 1959, she was united in marriage to Bob Donnelly at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Mason City. Together they made their home in Des Moines, where they moved in 1966 and built a life centered on family, faith, and love.

Kay’s pride and joy and real career was raising four boys. She stayed home while her sons were young. After that, she worked as an administrative assistant for a few doctors’ offices and officially retiring from Blue Cross Blue Shield after 10 years in 2006. She was a voracious reader of thousands of books and newspapers of all varieties. Reading was her greatest source of relaxation as she devoured the opinions, knowledge, experience and dreams shared by others. Many Sunday afternoons were spent at the library, returning home with a stack of books that never seemed tall enough.

Always the last to sit down and the first to get up, mom never really finished a meal. The family comfort dinners her mother taught her were exceptional. Growing up, Mom’s Irish stew, chicken & noodles, and especially her fried chicken could have won awards. In retirement, she delighted in day trips with friends and family, puzzles and countless games of cards.

Above all, Katherine cherished time with her grandchildren. She was never one to seek the spotlight; instead, she quietly built her life around what mattered most to her—children, family, and marriage.

She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

Katherine is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Irene Moorehead, husband, Robert Donnelly and sister Maxine Kemp.

Left to cherish her memory include her sons Tom (Amy) Donnelly, Denny (Janet) Donnelly, John (Erla) Donnelly and Mike (Kathi) Donnelly. Brother Dennis (Ted) Moorehead and sister Joanne Rebarcek. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren. Kathleen (Cam) Downey, Frances Donnelly, Robert Donnelly, Luke Donnelly, Molly Donnelly, Truitt Donnelly and Bennett Donnelly.