- Date Of Birth: November 20, 1929
- Date Of Death: May 21, 2014
- State: Iowa
Kathleen Pringle, age 84, of The Woodlands, Texas and formerly of Burt, died on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at the Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas. Kathleen Ruth Groen was born in a farm house near Burt Iowa known as the Union Slough with no electricity. She was 1 of 9 children of Harm and Kate Groen. She was active in all women’s sports including basketball, softball, cheerleading. Kathleen was the only Groen child to go to college, Iowa State Teachers College 1949-1950, Cedar Falls, Iowa, she taught for a couple of years in a one room school house. She met love of her life Gary Dorman Pringle at the Burt cafe while he was working the railroad, they were married at the Methodist Church in Burt on April 20 1954, and went onto to Army Military life at Fort Benjamin Harrison where first born Michael Gary Pringle was born. Kathleen was the supervisor of Accounting for the military business office there. A few months later discharged from the army, the family of 3 moved onto Iowa City, University of Iowa for pharmacy school living in a Quonset hut on campus. On their 2nd anniversary, and 14 months later, daughter Debra Kae was born at the University hospital. The family of four moved onto Ottumwa Iowa then onto Creston, Council Bluffs, Springfield Illinois, Davenport and then 27 years at Donahue Iowa. During Mike and Debra’s teen years, Kathleen completed her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree coursework at Mary Crest College, Davenport Iowa. She taught school for 5 years, and substitute taught for several years after that. Kathleen’s focus in these early years was raising the two children, completing her college work, helping with the various moves, and all accomplishing without a second car in the family until 1970! Learning the city’s bus routes became part of the family education. The family often travelled to national parks in the summer including Yellow Stone, Estes Park Rocky Mount National, Mt. Rushmore, many with the Dixon family. And uncle in Montana on a large Indian reservation was a frequent destination in our tent. Kathleen enjoyed teaching 4th, 5th, 6th grade math to students. After 5 years a freak accident in the classroom and bump at the chalk board took her knee out of commission and ultimate departure from the teaching field. One of her favorite hobbies early and later years was crossword puzzles. For the next 27 years, love of acreage from their respective families brought them to Donahue Iowa with 1 ½ acres, vegetable garden, fruit trees, wild strawberries and flowers galore. Many of the family visited over the years. Debra married in1978 and Michael married in 1980. Many remember Kathleen’s favorite pet Tinker Toy, a Pekinese who loved her, but not many others. Several have teeth marks to remember her favorite pet. Two elk hounds were part of the family for a while, and 3 dogs of varying sizes was an interesting life! Kathleen did a little bit of substitute teaching. Gary worked in pharmacy sales for El Lilly and eventually Hy-Vee pharmacy. Three grandsons were born during these years beginning with Anthony Michael Pringle, now 30, Nicholas Ryan Wymore, will be 30 in August, and Alexander Ryan Wymore, 23. And her family expanded to include Mina Wymore on May 10th, 2014 married to Nicholas and they were all present for Mother’s day May 11th, 2014. Enjoying the events of the grandsons, attending their plays, performances in school or watching their sports interests were a focus for Kathleen. A few great trips over the years including Hawaii with John, Elda Groen and Velma Dixon, and Alaska with Velma and Lee Dixon were highlights. Her love for crossword puzzles continued. And a new interest with the advent of casino gambling in the Quad Cities and Tama Iowa, she was especially good with Quick Hits. Kathleen loved to watch all sports on television including baseball, attending a Cubs game was a highlight, Chicago played the Astros in 1985 in Houston. When celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Las Vegas with Debra they began discussing a move to The Woodlands Texas. And 4 months later they had their Donahue house sold and a new residence in The Woodlands just 3 miles from Debra and Dennis, back in 2004. Grandsons and their interests continued to be her top focus. Her grandson Alex kicking a football for Hardin Simons College in Abilene Texas was a key trip for her in 2009. Kathleen’s battle with breast cancer began 6 years ago. She gave the disease a strong battle, often with few symptoms but later years more evidence and in March of this year with slurring speech the doctors performed an MRI finding a massive malignant tumor the size of a tangerine at the back of her brain neurosurgeon and team successfully removed. With two months, Kathleen tried hard to regain some strength and begin rehabilitation, but medical complications and ultimately the heart that gave out, she passed away on Wednesday May 21st. Left to cherish Kathleen’s memory is her husband of 60 years, Gary; a son, Michael Pringle of Davenport; a daughter, Debra (Dennis) Wymore of The Woodlands, TX; three grandsons, Anthony Pringle, Nicholas (Mina) Wymore and Alex Wymore; a sister, Gladys Doege of Ankeny; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Richard, Arthur and John Groen; and four sisters, Lavina Devine, Betty Gettman; Velma Dixon and Patricia Langfitt.
