Kathleen McCarty

Kathleen McCarty

Ankeny, Iowa

Services for Kathleen McCarty, age 79, of Ankeny, Iowa who passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at her home. A funeral mass will be at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, May 12, 2025, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sheldon with Father Siby Punnoose, officiating.

A private family burial will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025.

There will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Patrick’s School at https://www.gofundme.com/f/donate-to-st-patricks-school-renovations.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Kathleen McCarty

Kathleen McCarty, age 79, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away peacefully on May 7 from heart failure.

Kathy was born in Sheldon, Iowa to James and Cecelia (Mulhern) McCarty, who were proud that she was in St. Patrick’s Catholic School’s first graduating 8th grade class. After graduating from Sheldon High School Kathy went on to major in math education at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While attending Alverno she made a life-long friend, Patricia McSorley, who loved Kathy’s children as if we were her own.

After graduation, Kathy took a job teaching junior high math in Pueblo, Colorado. While living there she met and married Steve Rosenfeld. Over the course of their 25 year marriage they raised three children while living in Helena MT (welcome baby Rob!), Albany NY (welcome baby Deirdre!), Augusta ME (welcome baby Claire!), Cleveland OH, Queens NY, Armonk NY, and Ankeny IA. In addition to parenting Rob, Deirdre, and Claire, Kathy was active in parent-teacher organizations, volunteering in schools, working as a substitute teacher in the Ankeny school district, and teaching some courses at the local community college (DMACC).

Kathy was well known for her commitment to education and enjoyed nothing more than asking her children’s friends, nieces, nephews, and neighborhood kids how they were doing in school. Just ask her grandchildren; Grandma always wanted to know what they were learning in math class and what they liked best about school.

After her marriage ended Kathy began a new life chapter. She worked at Kohl’s, which she survived because of her friendship with Roberta Mleczewski, who was quick to laugh and commiserate. Kathy went on to teach at several alternative high schools, doing her best to help young adults move forward with their lives.

In addition to work, Kathy was an avid quilter, seamstress, embroiderer, and cross-stitcher. As she aged, she grew to love sewing pillowcases, gifting countless custom themed pillowcases to loved ones. Her work in every medium was meticulous, and her pillowcase fabric choices ranged from hilarious to charming. Any gifted hand-crafted item brought her immense joy, especially quilts for babies or weddings. The only things she liked better were playing cards and board games and winning at cards and board games. Kathy was a horrible loser to the very end, and a gloating winner.

Kathy grieved the loss of her siblings David, Bridget, Pat, and Susan, as well as both of her parents, mother-in-law Ellie Rosenfeld and brother-in-law Peter. Luckily, many remain to keep her memory alive, including children Rob (wife Tarlie, children Brox and Ellie), Deirdre, and Claire (husband Gjergji, children Thomas and George), siblings Mike, Mary, and Margaret, and siblings-in-law Maryetta, John, Richard, Sylvia & Dan, and Dan & Lori. No doubt her many nieces and nephews, as well as their spouses and children, will argue over who Kathy loved the most. Throughout her final year caregivers Tina, Lisa, Erica, Melanie, and April brought her companionship and comfort, and hospice providers Connie, Meghan, Johanna, Sam, Eichelle, and Ann maintained her health and dignity during her last two months. Even though she was not soft-hearted, Kathy showed deep love to so many, often with a handful of sass and a hearty dose of contrariness. We wouldn’t have her any other way.