Obituaries : Kathryn "Kathy" A. Johnson Rude

With profound sadness I announce the death of my devoted mother and best friend, Kathryn "Kathy" A. Johnson Rude, 73, of Cedar Rapids. She lost her short but courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, June 2, 2020. A Celebration of Life and visitation will be held at a later date at Faith Lutheran Church in Marion, Iowa.
Kathy was born on Aug. 28, 1946, in Vinton, Iowa, daughter of Clair and Wilma Johnson. She had a happy childhood in Shellsburg, Iowa, with her cousins and friends. She married Ron Dean in 1967 and was widowed five years later.
In 1974, Kathy married Harry Rude, in Marion, Iowa. They made a loving home for 39 years and raised the joy of their life, Michelle. Kathy loved music, especially classic country, classic rock-'n-roll, and jazz. One of her favorite things to do was attend the annual Bix Beiderbecke Festival. Kathy often could be found out at the mall or her favorite stores trying to find a great deal on clothes and décor for her house. She was a lifelong collector of Longaberger Baskets and P. Buckley Moss prints. Kathy loved to travel and do "getaway" weekends with cousins, Pat and Res, and sister, Becky. Friends and family always will remember her laugh and laughter. Kathy embraced people into her life and held relationships forever. During retirement years she enjoyed reading, coloring and scrapbooking. Spending time with her only granddaughter, Sophia, was special - often taking her for lunch, on a shopping trip, picking her up from school or attending her many events.
Kathy spent more than 30 years caring for others as a RN at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She cherished all of her lifelong friends that she made on 5 East. You could find them enjoying margaritas in the early days or attending retiree luncheons lately.
Kathy leaves behind a loving family: daughter, Michelle, son-in-law, Charlie Faulkner and granddaughter, Sophia; a special sister and best friend, Becky Mishoe, as well as a loving and kind brother, Richard Johnson and wife Leslie Mamoorian; and wonderful nieces and nephews, Jeff (Gypsy) Mishoe, Jenny (Bryan) Young, Ben Johnson and Liljana (Nabil) Baddour.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, infant daughter, and brothers-in-law, Wayne Mishoe and Lyn Rude.
Memorials may be directed to the St. Luke's Foundation in memory of Kathy Rude to honor her 30 years of service on 5E and the wonderful care she received during these last few months. She is dearly missed and will remain with us in our minds and hearts forever.