Linda Kay

Linda June (Witzke) Kay, age 83, of Storm Lake passed away at home August 12, 2024. Funeral services will take place Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Iowa. Burial will be in the Newell Cemetery in Newell, Iowa. Visitation will be held Friday, August 16, 2024 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Linda June was born in the Porath Hospital, Storm Lake, on June 27, 1941 to Nettie (Fitchett) and Leighton Witzke. She was baptized April 26, 1944 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and confirmed July 1, 1956. Linda graduated from Newell Community School in 1959. On September 25, 1960, Linda married Dwayne Kay. During the early years, Dwayne and Linda lived near Linn Grove. It was here that Linda enjoyed the activities of the Saddle Club. Linda and Dwayne then moved to the Truesdale area in 1966. At this home, Linda enjoyed raising her sons and a multitude of hobbies and activities as well as entertaining her grandchildren and great grandchildren with thousands of experiences. Linda and Dwayne had two boys, Todd and Trent. Linda was engaged with the boys as they grew. She would go to the extremes for her boys such as staying overnight in the barn with the boys to ensure a mare safely birthed her foal, taking them trapping early in the mornings before school, and eventually while the boys were in high school, she became recognized as a Hurricane “fan of the year” through her ultra support of the boys and their sporting teams. Once the grandkids arrived, her focus in life became them. Linda thrived through teaching and saturating the grandkids with history, life lessons, and experiences. The kids would stay for a full two weeks for Camp Kay. Linda constructed full-sized teepees, made clothing for each grandchild, and taught them lessons about the history and culture of the Indian tribes. She also took them on field trips. They visited the Renaissance Fair in Minneapolis and Living History farms in Des Moines. In addition to the trips, Linda created memorable experiences at home such as precise etiquette lessons to be able to use the right forks and place napkins on their laps while in public, tea parties, cucumber boat races and learning to cut vegetables. Some of the most memorable times were the simple fun stay-overs, filled with late night giggles. Linda, also, extended these opportunities to the great grands as well, hosting olympics, dance lessons, and so many other events. So while the grandkids were definitely a passion of hers, one of Linda’s most memorable traits was her cooking. “All of her recipes for all her people’s favorite foods are in the back of her cookbook. She also told me to remember where they were because she still wants you guys to have your favorite food when she was gone.” And “Her brownies… oh my word… the brownies.” The food experience was not limited to the grandchildren; every everyday meal was a feast. Linda prided herself in being able to cater to each person’s preference and taste. She also made meals an experience with continuously changing decor. Table clothes, cloth napkins, fancy place settings were her specialty. She shared this expertise with her family, friends, family showers, and any gathering. “She made so much food for everyone. And her ability to make even the smallest of gatherings feel fancy and special. The queen of hosting and giving food.” One other lasting memory is how special she made each person feel at Christmas. Linda created personalized Christmas stockings by selecting a theme and cross stitching an individualized stocking for each. Gifts, both in memory and material, for each. Linda is survived by sons: Todd (Marcia) and Trent; grandchildren: Brandon (Sami) Kay, Taryn (Isaak) Unger, and Sydney Kay; Tessa (Jacob) Doerksen, Chris Fisher, Megan (David Gonzalez) Kay; great grandchildren: Aubrey and Bentley Unger; Dax and Ava Kay; Jovi, Eve, Mason, and Silas Doerksen; Miyah Gonzalez, Anthony Esquivel, and Aleyah Gonzalez; sisters: Kathy Elston and Shari (Wayne) Raveling; brothers: Tim Witzke and Kent (Shayla) Witzke; sisters-in-law: Pat (Gene) Witzke Engstrom, Betty Witzke, and Bev Hoover. Preceded in death were her husband, Dwayne; parents: Leighton and Nettie Witzke; sister: Janice Holmstrom; brothers: James, Richard, and Ronald; brothers-in-law: Mike Elston and Gordan Hoover.

Linda Kay

June 27, 1941 - August 12, 2024