Kathleen Schissel

Kathleen Arlene (Elsbernd) Schissel, 72, of Olathe, Kansas, died Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born April 11, 1943 to Alois and Loretta (Kuennen) Elsbernd at Smith Memorial Hospital in Decorah, IA.

She attended Our Lady of Seven Dolors School in Festina through tenth grade and graduated from DeSales Central High School in 1961. She then attended Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin for two years.

She married Larry F. Schissel on October 26, 1963 at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, Iowa. Three children were born of this marriage: Brian, Mark and Kay. They began their marriage living in Ossian, Iowa and later in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, moving to Minneapolis, then Rochester, Minnesota, Denver, Colorado and finally retirement in Olathe, Kansas to be near grandchildren. While living in Cedar Rapids, Kathleen continued her education graduating with a BS degree in accounting. She was a Certified Public Accountant with licenses in Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado.

Kathleen was an avid reader never sitting idle without a book in hand. Appliqué quilting became her other passions having won several ribbons for her entries in quilt shows. She was a member of Blue Valley Quilters' Guild the past sixteen years. There was never a flower that she didn't like, but red roses were her favorite.

She is survived by her children Brian (Jane) Schissel, Olathe, Kansas, Mark (Aimee) Schissel, Rossmoor, California, and Kay (Kenneth) Duty, Olathe, Kansas. Also surviving are her grandsons Tyler Schissel, Luke Schissel, Jacob Schissel, and Kenny Duty, and her precious grand-daughter, Taylor Schissel, as well as her brothers Lawrence (Evelyn) Elsbernd of Calmar, Iowa, Denis (Jackie) Elsbernd of Olathe, KS, and Ray (Donna) Elsbernd of Calmar, Iowa, her sisters Annamae Kuhn of Calmar, Iowa, Agnes (Joe) Hackman of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, Clare Faas of West Salem, Wisconsin, Sr. Helen Elsbernd, FSPA, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Sr. Rosie Elsbernd, FSPA of La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers Paul Elsbernd, Jerry Elsbernd and Fr. Elmer Elsbernd, SVD.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015, from 6:00pm - 8:00 pm at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe, Kansas, with prayers of the rosary offered at 5:30pm.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, September 25, 2015, at 12:00 pm at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Olathe, Kansas. Burial in St Francis de Sales Cemetery, Ossian, Iowa.

Memorials are suggested to Operation Breakthrough, 3039 Troost, Kansas City, MO 64109.

To leave a message for the family, visit www.PenwellGabelOlathe.com.