Kathy Woelber

Katherine Mary Woelber was born to Carl Nicholas and Bertha (Herdina) Johannsen on September 12, 1944, in Canton, South Dakota. At the age of seven, she moved with her family to Pipestone, Minnesota where she was raised and attended school. After graduating from Pipestone High School in 1962, she began working at Armour Creamery. She later became employed at Pipestone National Bank from 1962 - 1966. During this time, she was united in marriage to Richard (Dick) Woelber on May 8, 1965, at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Pipestone. The couple was blessed with three children and made their home in rural Pipestone. 

In 1985 Kathy began working at Sweet Township Insurance and continued working there through 1989.  On February 9, 1990, she was united in marriage to Jim St. Aubin. She began working at Pipestone Schools as a Para in 1990 and retired in 1994.  The couple moved to Arizona in 1999 as she longed to be closer to her grandchildren. In 2010 she moved back to Pipestone, her forever true home.

Kathy was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church, confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, and has been a longtime member of Christ the King Free Lutheran Church all in Pipestone. She loved spending time sewing and decorating or flying down to Texas to spend time with her daughter and her family. She also enjoyed getting together with "the girls" to see a movie or go for pizza at Dar's. 

Kathy was a true friend to many. She always had the latest information on anything that was going on, but she wasn't a "gossip", she was just genuinely interested in people's lives and wanted to uplift them in any way possible.  Her prayer chain was always a mile long and she never wavered.  She prayed every day and was steadfast in her love for God no matter the hardship she faced. She never felt sorry for herself and only thought of others.  In her last few months, she always said, "If God heals me and I live, I WIN but if I don't beat this and I go to meet the Lord, I WIN". She lived her life with a WIN-WIN attitude that most everyone who knew her can attest to.

Kathy recently entered the care of the Pipestone County Hospice House in Pipestone and passed away peacefully there, surrounded by her family on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the age of 78.  

Her children would love to say thank you to all who loved their Mom and for always holding her in high regard. Thank you for all the prayers and loyalty you have shown her. Pipestone is and always will be home to all of them, no matter where they live, and your kindness hasn't gone unnoticed.

Kathy will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by her three children, Kent Woelber of Holland, MN, Jason (Lori) Woelber of Pipestone, MN and Stephani (Leon) Parker of McKinney, TX; one step-son, Matt (Karissa) St. Aubin of Holmen, WI; seven grandchildren, Rand Woelber, Ashten Woelber, Tiffany Woelber, Tarryn Woelber, Bret Woelber, Jessica (Spencer) Haberman & Jayden Parker; four step-grandchildren, Carly & Brody Alderson, Evelyn & Elle St. Aubin; two step-great grandchildren, Aria & Aubri DeZeeuw; one sister, Jo Ann (David) Burroughs of Sunnyvale, TX; her ex-husband, Dick (Renee) Woelber of Valley Springs, SD. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Dale Johannsen and his wife, Susan; and one sister, Ardis and her husband, Roger Bakkene; and her ex-husband, Jim St. Aubin.