MANKATO - Kathryn (Tappe) Simmons, age 83 of Mankato, MN and formerly of Madison Lake, MN, died Thursday, July 12, 2012 surrounded by family, at Laurels Peak Nursing Home in Mankato, MN. A remembrance/celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 21 in the back yard at the home of her daughters - 839 Sherman Street, North Mankato from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Ample parking is available in the Spring Lake Park lot, entrance at Sherman and Tyler Streets.
Kathryn was born June 18, 1929 in New Ulm, MN to Elmer and Helga (Hauenstein) Tappe. She was the granddaughter of John and Louise Hauenstein of the Hauenstein brewery in New Ulm, MN. As a young woman she worked as a switchboard operator for Ma Bell in Mankato, MN. She married Robert (Bob) Simmons November 27th, 1957. They started a family and moved to Madison Lake. In the 1960s she taught Head Start at All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake and later, when she was in her 60s, worked as a clerk assistant at the Madison Lake City Hall. For several years in between she worked at E F Johnson in Waseca, MN. Not just a working mother but also a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, baking, canning, sewing and family.
She is remembered as a voracious reader with a quick wit and biting sense of humor.
Kathryn is survived by her four children: Robin Simmons, Charles Simmons and Wendy (Simmons) Earle of North Mankato, MN; Tom Simmons of Kasota, MN; Vicky (Martins) Scribner (who was like a daughter to her) of Waseca, MN and her five children (who were like grandchildren to her); grandchildren: Nathan Earle of Wells, MN, Alysia Earle of Mankato, MN, Jordyn Morris of North Mankato, MN, Ashley, Jeremy and Richie Cummins; great grandchildren: Alexia Roiger and Aidan Wieland of New Ulm, MN; Kaylee and Jayda Savage of Mankato, MN, Jordan Larson of Mankato, MN; niece Patsy Lightcap of New Jersey.
Preceded in death by husband Robert Simmons (1990); parents Elmer and Helga Tappe; brother and his wife, Carl (Cot) and Marlys Tappe of North Carolina; nephew Bobby Tappe of Ohio.