Obituary of Kathleen D. Bolender

Kathleen Dawn “Kate” (Conklin) Bolender was born January 10, 1949, in Iowa City the oldest of 8 children born to Jean and Clifford Conklin.  Kate died Sunday, March 18, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

“This beautiful child of God is home today. My mom passed quietly this afternoon. If you ever knew her she always made you feel loved. She would give you her last penny or the shirt off her back, probably the most loving and generous person I’ve ever known. She could read you like a book and share your pain the moment you walked in the door. She made a lot of mistakes in her life and never denied them. We didn’t have much when I was growing up but I didn’t know it. She taught me the most important things in life are the people you love and the people who love you.” from her son, Burke.

Kate was a person who loved generously, weather it was those she cared for in her home or with her dear friend, Terry McCall at their Rainbow Daycare Center for the many children throughout the years.

Her family includes her sons, Burke and his wife, Karen; and Tony Rodgers; grandchildren, Keeley, Berkley, Maizey, Chloe, Natalie, Max, Bradley and Elizabeth; her mother, Jean Schwab; and siblings, Connie Holcomb, Jeri Schwab, Jan Johnson, Judy Yeggy, Chris Matthess, Cammy Spencer and John Schwab; step-sons, Cameron, John and Drew Bolender; nieces and nephews, Rachel Hills, Matthew Holcomb, Alicia Smith, Jennifer Elliot, Carley Spencer, Audrey Spencer,  Kimberly Spencer, Corey Yeggy, JoshuaYeggy, Rob Elliot, and special friend, Warren Paris.  She was preceded in death by her father and husband, Darrell Bolender.

 There will be a time to celebrate, share and support Kate’s life to be held from 5 to 7 pm Wednesday, March 28th at Shakespeare's Pub & Grill.