Kathryn Sue (Gillen) Ness age 46, of West Concord, passed away on Monday, March 31, 2025. She was born on December 27, 1978, to George and Deborah (Dressel) Gillen, the second of four daughters. Katie graduated from Kenyon – Wanamingo High School and continued her education at Rochester Community and Technical College where she followed her passion, earning an associate degree in horticulture. Katie’s interest of flowers and plants brought her to work for different businesses that expanded her horizons. Most recently, Katie was working as a CNA at Fairview Care Center in Dodge Center taking care of the elderly. Katie’s love for everything she did connected her with a lifetime of wonderful friends.
In 2011, Katie met Greg Ness, and they later married on November 11, 2022. The couple spent time vacationing together, playing a good game of Gin, and working together building and tearing down grain bins for Greg’s company, Ness Construction. Katie had a broad range of interests; when she wasn’t outside in her gardens or working with nature, she enjoyed collectible cars and loved her animals.
Katie is survived by her loving husband, Greg Ness; her parents, George and Deb Gillen; her step-children, Trevor (Serena) Ness and Kyra (Zach) Possehl; her grandchildren: Liam and Luca Possehl, Hazel, Conrad, and Croix Ness; her sisters: Betsy (David) Doolittle, Andrea (Robb) Finnigsmier, and Laurie (Adam) Kirschling; her nieces and nephews: Sawyer and Grace Doolittle, Bea, Hugo, and Ada Finnigsmier; her grandfather, Mark H. Dressel; her father and mother-in-law, Sharon and Lar Ness; and numerous cousins, extended family, and friends.
Katie will be greatly missed by her family, especially nieces and nephews as she was always known as the “fun aunt”, always having an exciting activity, treat, or plan for them. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Sally Dressel, and many other family members.
A memorial service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Moland Lutheran Church, rural Kenyon. Pastor Robert Kaul officiated. A visitation was held on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Michaelson Funeral Home in Kenyon from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with an additional visitation on Friday one hour prior to the service.
