MASON CITY — Kathryn Sue “Kathy” Miller, 74, of Cedar Falls and formerly a longtime Garner resident, died Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City following a courageous journey with cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2026, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE in Mason City, with Mark Doebel officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, 740 1st St. NE in Britt.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel and will continue for one hour before Friday’s funeral service.
Born June 7, 1952, in Forest City, Kathy was the daughter of Elmer Ellsworth “Mike” and Marvel Kathryn (Brand) Thompson. The oldest of six children, she grew up in communities across North Iowa and graduated from Mason City High School in 1970.
Kathy went on to build an exceptionally long career with one of North Iowa’s best-known companies.
According to her obituary, she worked for Winnebago Industries for more than four decades, serving as a material analyst in the company’s Capco Division. She became known among coworkers for her dedication, loyalty and strong work ethic before retiring in 2011.
Kathy married Bob Miller, and the couple had a daughter, Julie. Although the marriage later ended, Kathy and Bob remained friends and maintained a close and cooperative family relationship with Bob and Linda.
Kathy raised Julie in Garner, the community she called home for more than 30 years.
While deeply rooted in North Iowa, Kathy also possessed an adventurous streak that carried her far beyond the region.
Travel became one of the great pleasures of her life. Her journeys took her to Hawaii an impressive 15 times, as well as Croatia, Italy, Alaska and destinations throughout the United States.
One particularly meaningful connection began when Kathy opened her home to foreign exchange student Zeljka Baricevic. What started as an international exchange experience developed into a lifelong bond, with Zeljka eventually becoming an honorary daughter and permanent part of Kathy’s extended family.
For all the places she visited, however, Kathy’s greatest happiness remained centered around her family.
Her daughter, grandchildren, siblings and mother held especially important places in her life. Family trips, craft shows and ordinary time spent together became opportunities to create memories.
Becoming “Bama” to her four grandchildren — Samuel, Alexander, Foster and Katelynn — brought Kathy tremendous joy. She took an active role in their lives, even earning another affectionate family title as the “Granny Nanny” while helping care for them and watching them grow.
Kathy also found happiness in gardening and flowers, collecting birdhouses and caring for animals. Her beloved pets and granddogs, Peyton and Fergie, were among those fortunate enough to receive her attention and affection.
Her personality was a memorable combination of independence, creativity, determination and a little sass.
Family members affectionately called her “Sarge,” a nickname reflecting Kathy’s natural tendency to take charge and make sure things got done. She was the person relatives and friends could turn to for advice, assistance or simply someone willing to listen.
She also had an ability to strike up conversations wherever she went, often turning encounters with strangers into new friendships.
One of Kathy’s familiar pieces of advice was simple: “Keep it together.”
Those words may carry even greater meaning for her family now.
Perhaps no quality defined Kathy more clearly than resilience.
She confronted cancer more than once during her life and continued moving forward with determination. According to her obituary, her family treasured nearly 20 additional years with her following an earlier battle with the disease.
Rather than allowing illness to become the defining feature of her life, Kathy continued traveling, spending time with family, enjoying her grandchildren and embracing the experiences available to her. She also strongly encouraged others to take preventive health measures and care for themselves.
Kathy is survived by her daughter, Julie (Oly) Rouse of Cedar Falls; her mother, Marvel Thompson; grandchildren Samuel, Alexander, Foster and Katelynn Rouse; siblings Michael (Susan) Thompson of Rogers, Arkansas, Dawn Corrick of Friendswood, Texas, Marsha (Jim) Hart of Mason City, Audrey (Jim) Hare of Mason City and Mark (Laurie) Thompson of Garner; honorary daughter Zeljka Baricevic and her family; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Elmer “Mike” Thompson; niece Chelsea Hart; and brother-in-law Rick Corrick.
Kathy leaves behind reminders of a life spent creating, exploring, helping and caring for others — from the flowers she planted and places she traveled to the friendships she formed and the family she fiercely loved.
Memorial contributions in Kathy’s memory may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the North Iowa Humane Society.
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel in Mason City is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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