Kathryn Helene Ross

Kathryn Helene (Kay) Flannery Ross, 91, died December 24, 2023 at Prairie Vista Village in Altoona, Iowa.  A visitation will be held on Thursday December 28, 2023 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.  with a Wake Service at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday December 29, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., celebrated by her grandson Father Ross Parker.  All services will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Elkhart, Iowa of which Kay was a lifelong member.  Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery.

Kay was born on February 12, 1932 in Des Moines, Iowa to D. Leo and Bertha Sinon Flannery. She spent most of her life on the corner of SE Lincoln and First Streets in Bondurant.  First in her parent’s home then across the street in a home shared with her husband and family for 58 years. She moved to Prairie Vista in 2018.

Kay graduated from Bondurant High School in 1950.  She married William Ross on September 15, 1951 at St. Mary’s Church.

She was noted for her good singing voice and sang at many weddings and funerals over the years.  She with her sisters Rita and Mary sang together often particularly at War Bond Rallies during World War II.

Kay loved being a homemaker and had many close lifelong friends.  She was known for her hospitality and great cooking.  She was extremely proud of her family and being Irish.

Kay is survived by three daughters Buffy (Charlie) Hart of Ankeny, Peggy (Kevin) Parker of Indianola, and Kate (Joe) Tinguely of Prior Lake, Minnesota; nine grandchildren Mary Beth (Dan) Hamann, Maggie Hart, Ross Parker, John (Rachael) Parker, Mary (Jeff) Ludwig, Joe (Gladis) Parker, Will Tinguely, Michael Tinguely and Brennan Tinguely; and five great grandchildren Charlie Hamann, Peter Parker, Parker Ludwig, John Ludwig and Amelia Parker with a sixth coming in February; a brother John (Suzie) Flannery of West Des Moines and many cherished nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son Joseph Ross, a great granddaughter Kathryn Parker, and her sisters Rita Smith and Mary Newell.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to the staff at Prairie Vista for the compassionate and loving care provided to Kay during her time there.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.