Kathleen Holmes

Kathleen Ann Holmes, 92, of Hudson, met her Savior on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Waterloo on July 12, 1931, the daughter of Ernest and Ilda Rigdon Wason. Kathleen studied library science at UNI and worked at the Hudson Library as the Library Director. Kathleen married her lifelong sweetheart, Cecil Holmes, on her 18th birthday, July 12, 1949. Kathleen met Cecil on the school bus and, at the time, referred to him as that smart aleck Cecil Holmes. The union was blessed with five children. Kathleen and Cecil attributed their long marriage to the understanding that if one of them wanted to leave, they had to take the 5 kids with them.

Kathleen was an avid reader and is credited with turning a lot of non-readers into readers. She was primarily a homemaker, caring for her family. She enjoyed sewing and traveling worldwide. Kathleen was always cooking treats and baking, especially bread. For Kathleen, people were important, and she believed in investing her time into everyone she met. If you said something she didn't completely agree with, rather than argue, might simply reply "Perhaps." Kathleen was a lifelong member of the Community Church of Hudson.

Kathleen was very active and invested in the community of Hudson. She was the first female to serve on the Hudson School Board and the Hudson City Council, as well as the first female president of the school board. She served on the church board, was co-president of the Hudson Chamber of Commerce, active with the Tuesday Study Club and a member of the Masonic and Shrine Auxiliary.

Kathleen is survived by her husband of 74 years, Cecil Holmes, of Hudson; children Jim (Leayn) Holmes, John "Jay" (Stacie) Holmes, Carol Holmes, and Karen (Frank) Bahit, all of Hudson, and Marianne (James) Tiffany of Chetek, WI; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren with 3 more on the way; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Craig and Bob Wason and sister Rita Roederer.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 10:30 AM at the Community Church of Hudson, 226 Eldora Rd, Hudson with private family burial in the Hudson Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, from 4-7 PM at Locke on 4th, 1519 W. 4th Street, Waterloo. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be directed to the Hudson Public Library. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.lockefuneralservices.com.