Katherine McFarland, 93, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Waterloo, died of natural causes at the Western Home Cottages, Cedar Falls, on Friday, January 1, 2016. She was born September 1, 1922 in Waterloo, daughter of James J. and Maggie (O'Halloran) Rooff. They were Bulgarian and Irish immigrants, known as "Keena" to family.
She attended West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
Katherine married Albert Sullivan on May 11, 1940 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Al, as he was known to friends, and Katherine married after about a year's courtship.
They had only been married about two years when Albert and his four brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, and Madison) enlisted in the Navy. All five were assigned to the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the South Pacific, August 1942 to February 1943. On November 13, 1942, the Juneau was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship within minutes. Frank, Joseph and Madison were killed in the explosion, Albert drowned the next day, and George drowned a few days later.
Katherine was left with a young son and the necessity of moving on with their lives. She lived a full life after the tragedy. Katherine worked at Rath Packing for several years and then was a homemaker in her own home. She raised her and Albert's son, Jim, now retired and living in Waterloo.
Katherine mostly remained in the background during various events honoring her husband and his brothers, The Five Sullivan Brothers. However, she welcomed crew members of the USS The Sullivans, the second of two Navy destroyers named for the brothers, during visits. She participated in the dedication of the Grout Museum District's Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in 2008.
She married Dean McFarland on Dec. 31, 1946. He died October of 1986.
She lived at the Western Home cottage where she sang karaoke and was referred to as "Kate the Great" by staff.
She is survived by her son and his wife, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.
Family graveside services will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. She requested no services or memorial; however, family and friends will celebrate her life from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Sullivan Brothers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1623, 1406 Commercial St. Memorials to Western Home Cottages, Cedar Bend Humane Society, or Cedar Valley Hospice.
She attended West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
Katherine married Albert Sullivan on May 11, 1940 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Al, as he was known to friends, and Katherine married after about a year's courtship.
They had only been married about two years when Albert and his four brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, and Madison) enlisted in the Navy. All five were assigned to the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the South Pacific, August 1942 to February 1943. On November 13, 1942, the Juneau was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship within minutes. Frank, Joseph and Madison were killed in the explosion, Albert drowned the next day, and George drowned a few days later.
Katherine was left with a young son and the necessity of moving on with their lives. She lived a full life after the tragedy. Katherine worked at Rath Packing for several years and then was a homemaker in her own home. She raised her and Albert's son, Jim, now retired and living in Waterloo.
Katherine mostly remained in the background during various events honoring her husband and his brothers, The Five Sullivan Brothers. However, she welcomed crew members of the USS The Sullivans, the second of two Navy destroyers named for the brothers, during visits. She participated in the dedication of the Grout Museum District's Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in 2008.
She married Dean McFarland on Dec. 31, 1946. He died October of 1986.
She lived at the Western Home cottage where she sang karaoke and was referred to as "Kate the Great" by staff.
She is survived by her son and his wife, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.
Family graveside services will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. She requested no services or memorial; however, family and friends will celebrate her life from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Sullivan Brothers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1623, 1406 Commercial St. Memorials to Western Home Cottages, Cedar Bend Humane Society, or Cedar Valley Hospice.
Katherine McFarland, 93, of Cedar Falls, formerly of Waterloo, died of natural causes at the Western Home Cottages, Cedar Falls, on Friday, January 1, 2016. She was born September 1, 1922 in Waterloo, daughter of James J. and Maggie (O'Halloran) Rooff. They were Bulgarian and Irish immigrants, known as "Keena" to family.
She attended West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
Katherine married Albert Sullivan on May 11, 1940 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Al, as he was known to friends, and Katherine married after about a year's courtship.
They had only been married about two years when Albert and his four brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, and Madison) enlisted in the Navy. All five were assigned to the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the South Pacific, August 1942 to February 1943. On November 13, 1942, the Juneau was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship within minutes. Frank, Joseph and Madison were killed in the explosion, Albert drowned the next day, and George drowned a few days later.
Katherine was left with a young son and the necessity of moving on with their lives. She lived a full life after the tragedy. Katherine worked at Rath Packing for several years and then was a homemaker in her own home. She raised her and Albert's son, Jim, now retired and living in Waterloo.
Katherine mostly remained in the background during various events honoring her husband and his brothers, The Five Sullivan Brothers. However, she welcomed crew members of the USS The Sullivans, the second of two Navy destroyers named for the brothers, during visits. She participated in the dedication of the Grout Museum District's Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in 2008.
She married Dean McFarland on Dec. 31, 1946. He died October of 1986.
She lived at the Western Home cottage where she sang karaoke and was referred to as "Kate the Great" by staff.
She is survived by her son and his wife, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.
Family graveside services will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. She requested no services or memorial; however, family and friends will celebrate her life from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Sullivan Brothers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1623, 1406 Commercial St. Memorials to Western Home Cottages, Cedar Bend Humane Society, or Cedar Valley Hospice.
She attended West High School in Waterloo, Iowa.
Katherine married Albert Sullivan on May 11, 1940 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Al, as he was known to friends, and Katherine married after about a year's courtship.
They had only been married about two years when Albert and his four brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, and Madison) enlisted in the Navy. All five were assigned to the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal Campaign in the South Pacific, August 1942 to February 1943. On November 13, 1942, the Juneau was struck by two Japanese torpedoes, causing a huge explosion that sank the ship within minutes. Frank, Joseph and Madison were killed in the explosion, Albert drowned the next day, and George drowned a few days later.
Katherine was left with a young son and the necessity of moving on with their lives. She lived a full life after the tragedy. Katherine worked at Rath Packing for several years and then was a homemaker in her own home. She raised her and Albert's son, Jim, now retired and living in Waterloo.
Katherine mostly remained in the background during various events honoring her husband and his brothers, The Five Sullivan Brothers. However, she welcomed crew members of the USS The Sullivans, the second of two Navy destroyers named for the brothers, during visits. She participated in the dedication of the Grout Museum District's Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum in 2008.
She married Dean McFarland on Dec. 31, 1946. He died October of 1986.
She lived at the Western Home cottage where she sang karaoke and was referred to as "Kate the Great" by staff.
She is survived by her son and his wife, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.
Family graveside services will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. She requested no services or memorial; however, family and friends will celebrate her life from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Sullivan Brothers Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1623, 1406 Commercial St. Memorials to Western Home Cottages, Cedar Bend Humane Society, or Cedar Valley Hospice.
Inscription
KATHERINE McFARLAND
BELOVED WIFE
SEP 1 1922 ✟
Gravesite Details
Died of Natural Causes
Family Members
See more Sullivan McFarland or Rooff memorials in:
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