Kay Marie Gieselman, 81, of Oelwein passed away on Friday April 18, 2025 as her husband, her children, and their spouses prayed over her. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM on Monday April 28, 2025 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein. Rosary services will begin at 3:45 PM on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Tuesday April 29, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Fr. Ray Atwood officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation.
Kay Stevens was born February 27, 1944 in Monticello, IA to parents Louis and Marie Stevens and grew up on the family farm outside of Hopkinton, IA. Kay was bestowed the honors of Miss Dyersville and Delaware County Dairy Princess in her younger years. Upon graduating from Xavier High School in Dyersville, IA she attended Mercy Nursing Technical College where she received training as a surgical technician. She began working at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids and was highly sought after by the resident surgeons for her operating room skills. Kay met Harold (Harry) Gieselman in a highly contested softball game at Palisades Park outside of Cedar Rapids. They were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein, IA on July 27, 1967.
In the winter of 1969 Harold and Kay (now with child) left Cedar Rapids in a raging blizzard to begin a life farming with Kay’s parents outside of Oelwein. During her time on the farm Kay worked alongside Harry in livestock and row crop production. Off the farm Kay was active in Sacred Heart Church, various commodity-based groups, community clubs, Republican Women, and Oelwein Chamber of Commerce.
Kay enjoyed sewing, gardening, preserving foods, traveling with Harry, dancing/music, and spending time at Lake Delhi, a place she went to escape the stresses of life. She was greatly accomplished in the art of comfort food preparation and brought joy and additional pounds to family members and friends. This was just one of the ways she lavished love upon her family who brought great joy to her life.
Left to celebrate Kay’s life are her loving husband Harry; her 3 children Renee (Doug) Hembry of Milo, IA, Gwen (Scott) Recker of Oelwein, IA, Heath (Kera) Gieselman of Oelwein, IA; her grandchildren Cameron (Kayden) Minton, Gabrielle Recker, Grant Minton, Eric Recker, Alex Gieselman, Lana Gieselman, Owen Gieselman, Simon Gieselman; her great grandchildren Colter Minton and a girl expected in August; her sisters Karen Gilson and Connie Kaltenbach. She was preceded in death by her parents Louis and Marie Stevens and her in-laws Howard and Dorothy Gieselman.
