Kathleen (Kathy) May (Cassens) Shaver

Kathleen (Kathy) May (Cassens) Shaver, surrounded by her family, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of Jesus on May 25, 2023. When asked what she wanted in her obituary, Kathy simply said, “Keep it short.” To honor her request, here is the short version. She lived 92 years full of family, love and a rich life experience that took her from growing up on an Iowa farm to being an educator where she touched many lives. She loved working with students either directly in the classroom or helping them discover their life’s direction. Other than a short stint in Missouri, she lived her entire life in Iowa and was always a UNI Panther fan but also cheered for the Iowa State University Cyclones. She had four children and they all miss her. The end.

Kathy was born on July 30, 1930, in Sigourney, Iowa.  She was the first child to her parents Harvey and Margaret (Goeldner) Cassens.  As the family grew she was joined by her brother Charles and sisters Janice and Doris. They all worked hard on a farmstead near Sigourney where life was full of family values and community.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings. She was indeed the last one standing and stoic to the end. Left to remember a life well lived are her children: Charles (Molly) Shaver of Montrose, Colorado; Sally (Paul) Shaver DuBois of Kelley, Iowa; Mary  (Joss) Walter of Sandy, Utah; Dave (Judy) Shaver of Telluride, Colorado; her grandchildren: Joslyn (Alex) Ferrada of Brisbane, Australia; Andrea (Andrew) Carpenter of Denver, Colorado; Rachel (Richard) McCoy of Denver, Colorado; Madyson (Spencer) Walter-Fayles of Tacoma, Washington; Claire Shaver of Denver, Colorado; and great-granddaughter Charlotte McCoy of Denver, Colorado. She will also be missed by her numerous nieces, nephews, brother-in-law, sisters in-law, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 2 from 4-6pm at Grandon Funeral Home in Ames, IA. Kathy will be reunited with her husband Chuck and laid to rest in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sigourney, Iowa, on Saturday, June 3 at 3pm. Arrangements are under the care of the Grandon Funeral Home in Ames, Iowa.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 11am at Calvary United Methodist Church in Ames, Iowa with lunch to follow (lunch location TBD). They hope friends and family will gather to remember Kathy through music, stories, and scripture. 

Kathy always said, “Visit me and send flowers while I’m alive because I won’t be able to enjoy the people or blooms at my funeral.” In lieu of flowers, Kathy requested that memorials be given to an educational charity of the donor’s choice. 

Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com