Kathryn Joan (Menken) Dann, 77

Kathryn Joan (Menken) Dann, 77, of Allison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025, under the care of Hospice at the Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. She died as a result of diabetes complications. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., November 21, 2025 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vilmar. She will be laid to rest at the Vilmar Cemetery following the service. A public visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the service on November 21. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Greene Public Library. Woodley Funeral Home of Allison is caring for Kathryn and her family.

Kathy was born on October 2, 1948, to Rick and Evelyn (Voigts) Menken, Allison. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Vilmar Lutheran Church, rural Greene, of which she was a lifelong member.

Kathy was the youngest of four siblings that grew up at the Vilmar Store, located between Allison and Greene. The house was connected to the store and as soon as she was old enough she joined in the family business dusting cans, stocking shelves and learning to make change.

She graduated from the Allison/Bristow Community High School in 1966. She worked in several area restaurants and the Allison Library. Kathy worked as a dispatcher at the Buther County Sheriff’s Department, a job she loved, for 28 years until her retirement.

Kathy was married to Ronald C. Dann on May 6, 1973. They were married for 45 years before his death in 2018. Although they never had children, she had a very close relationship with her nieces, Jackie and Sheri, and her nephews, Danny and John.

Kathy was a loving caregiver to her mother and following her death bought her parents’ home. It remained the central gathering place for visiting family members and holiday events where one of the most popular items on the menu was Kathy’s deviled eggs.

Kathy loved football and was a loyal Minnesota Vikings fan. She was an avid reader and a faithful patron of the Greene Public Library. They always had a stack of new books waiting for her to read and review. Her recommendations were passed on to other fans of mystery novels. She also loved to travel, but her favorite destination was the Minneapolis area where both her brothers, John (Carol) and Tom (Bonnie) lived. The trips always included long boat rides, great food and shopping.

Survivors include: a sister, Mari Ann (Jerold) Wearda and a brother, Tom (Bonnie) Menken; sister-in-law, Carol Menken; nieces, Jackie Menken, Sheri (Mark) Hargrave, Shellie (Travis) Grunwald, a nephew, John (Christy) Wearda, and many great nieces and nephews as well as numerous cousins and friends who will cherish her memory.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Ron, a brother, John (Carol) Menken, and a nephew, Daniel (Wendy) Menken.