It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kathryn Nielsen Stower, a beloved wife, mother, and friend who left us all too soon. She succumbed to breast cancer on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at the age of 45, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and cherished memories.

Visitation will take place on Friday, October 20, 2023, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Minnehaha United Methodist Church, 3701 E 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55417. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 21, at 11:00 AM at Minnehaha United Methodist Church, with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM.

Kate was born on February 3, 1978, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Marilyn (Nielsen) and Harvey Stower. In 1982, they moved to Amery, Wisconsin, where Kate attended elementary through high school. She graduated in 1996, heading to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Kate moved to Eau Claire to pursue her master’s degree in education. Master’s degree in hand, she then taught middle school in Shakopee for a year before moving to Bemidji and joining the staff at Voyageurs Expeditionary School.

In the midst of her adventures, Kate found a partner in life who shared her enthusiasm for exploration. She married Joseph Schlosser in 2005, and together, they embarked on new adventures, building a life together founded on love and shared experiences. Her love for Joe was unwavering; it was a partnership that endured through the joys and challenges of life.

Kate returned to the Twin Cities in 2006, where she and Joe set up a beautiful life together in South Minneapolis. Kate worked for the Minnesota Historical Society while raising her three beautiful children: Adam, Hazel, and Hannah. Kate was a nurturing and caring mother, guiding her children through life's ups and downs, imparting wisdom, and instilling in them her love for exploration and discovery. Kate’s children were her greatest pride, and her love for them was boundless.

Even a cancer diagnosis did not dim her remarkable spirit and zest for life. Kate demonstrated unwavering strength, resilience, and optimism that inspired everyone who knew her. She maintained her yearning to give back to the communities that meant so much to her—the rural communities that helped raised her, as well as the school and church communities of south Minneapolis. And she continued to explore her passions, returning to the University of Minnesota for her master’s degree in urban planning.

Kate is survived by her husband, Joe; children Adam, Hazel, and Hannah; parents in-law Judy and Dick Schlosser of Durand, WI; sister Elizabeth (John Niebauer) Stower of Brasilia, Brazil; Joe’s siblings Jean Volkmuth of Fairbault, MN, Jen (Joe) Knolmayer of Morrison, CO, Kate (Keith) Bersch of Davidson, NC; and twelve nieces and nephews.

Preceding Kathryn in death were her parents, Marilyn and Harvey, and her paternal and maternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family for the children’s college fund, to Gilda’s Club of MN, to the Amery Historical Society, or to Minnehaha United Methodist Church.

Last Update: Oct 14, 2023 3:10 pm CDT