Kathryn McNeill

A Funeral Service for Kathryn McNeill, age 73, of Spirit Lake will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 2:00pm at the Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

Kathryn passed away on August 11, 2026, at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake.

Kathryn Kora McNeill, lovingly known as Kathy, was born October 25, 1952, in Algona, Iowa. In 1962, her family moved to Spirit Lake, Iowa, where she would always consider home. She graduated from Spirit Lake High School in 1971 and attended Ellsworth Junior College where she found a love for art. Kathy moved to Loveland, Colorado and worked for the City of Loveland for five years. When her father became ill, she returned home and then attended St. Paul Bible College.

On October 21, 1973, during the Jesus People Movement, Kathy gave her life to Jesus Christ. From that moment forward, her faith became the foundation and purpose of her life. Her heart was always for ministry, and she had a deep desire to see others come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Following her father's passing, Kathy traveled to New Jersey, where she spent time with Operation Mobilization, participating in ministry and outreach.

Kathy later joined Youth With A Mission and moved to Perth, Australia, where she continued working in full time ministry for two years. During that time, she participated in ongoing outreach, spreading the gospel to many different countries.

Upon returning home to Spirit Lake, Kathy worked as an administrative assistant to Larry Stoller at his law offices until her retirement.

While her working years were an important part of her life, those who knew Kathy best knew that her passion was always ministry and her greatest ministry opportunity was taking care of her mom, Irene, through her end of life.

Kathy spent countless hours praying for and pouring into her family and friends. She was an encourager, always eager to strengthen others in their faith and to lovingly ask if they would consider knowing Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Her faith was not simply something she talked about—it was something she lived.

Kathy also had a love for quilting and a deep fascination with history and genealogy. She enjoyed researching her family's ancestry and discovering the stories and connections that shaped generations before her. Her love of history led her to volunteer with the Spirit Lake Museum, where she found great joy in helping preserve the history of the area while also uncovering interesting facts about her own family.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Irene McNeill; her sister and brother in law, Sherry and Lynn Kueck; her brother, Theodore (Ted) McNeill; and her nieces, Kristine Kueck and Karla Miller.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and William Vick; her sister-in-law, Sharon McNeill; her nieces and nephews, Marcie Miller (Terry), Tim McNeill (Stephanie), David McNeill, Jennifer Seales (Korey), Daniel McNeill, Shain Vick (Chris), and Heather Conradson (Darren); 21 great-nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great-nieces and nephews.

Kathy leaves behind a legacy of encouragement and a testimony of a life devoted to Jesus. Her family and friends will remember her loving heart, her prayers, her love of history and quilting, and most of all, her unwavering desire that everyone she knew would come to know the Savior she loved. Her ministry continues through the many people she prayed for, encouraged, and touched along the way.