Kathryn L. Harrison

Kathryn L. Harrison, 83, of Sioux City died Friday, June 6, 2008, at her residence following a courageous fight against cancer.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave., with the Rev. Janice Bennett officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Tuesday at the funeral home.

Kathryn was born March 13, 1925, in Bloomfield, Neb., to Lester and Hazel (Collingwood) Sawyer. Katie grew up on the family farm just outside of Bloomfield near the famed "Devils Nest." She graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1942, and then moved to Sioux City during World War II and began working at Wincharger, where she met Paul A. Harrison.

The couple fell in love and were married March 11, 1944, in Elk Point, S.D. They had three sons, Dan, Patrick and Jeff. During this time, Kathryn began working in the women's department at Younker-Davidson's, where she loved working with the public, as she did later on at Walgreens and the Junior League. Paul passed away in 1988 after 44 years of marriage.

In her late years, Kathryn enjoyed the simple pleasures of life like riding through Stone Park with her son on a crisp autumn afternoon, doing embroidery for family and friends, watching the finches and woodpeckers outside her window, going to Wednesday coffee with her many friends at Riverside Gardens, watching Kirk Hinrich and the Chicago Bulls on WGN and, most of all, playing with her beautiful baby grandson, Noah.

Kathryn was a gentle, loving and caring wife, mother and friend, who had great spirit and humor to the very end of her life. She will be missed, and she will forever be in our memories and our hearts.

Survivors include her sons, Danny Harrison and his wife, Diane of Omaha, Patrick Harrison of Sioux City, and Jeff Harrison and his wife, Bev of Seattle, Wash.; a daughter, Jennifer Conley and her husband, Matt of Sioux City; a brother, Lonnie Sawyer and his wife, Ramona of Spokane, Wash.; a sister, Mary Johnson and her husband, Roland of Wausau, Neb.; many nieces and nephews; and a grandson, Noah.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Paul.

Pallbearers will be Jim Hinrich, Marty Delperdang, Bob Hoberg, Tim Bruner, Tom Bruner and Philip Bruner.

Her family wishes to thank the entire staff of the June E. Nylen Cancer Center and Hospice of Siouxland for providing such fantastic care and comfort to Kathryn for these past 20 months.