Obituary: Kathleen Zmolek

Kathleen Ann Zmolek, 92, of Waterloo, died on Thursday, November 6th, 2025 at  Mercy One Waterloo.  

She was born April 23, 1933, in Cedar Township, the daughter of Clem Sr. and Rose  Frost Reiter.  

Kathleen graduated from St. Mary’s of Mt. Carmel in 1951. On October 12, 1953 she  married Leonard W. Zmolek in Eagle Center, IA. He preceded her in death on July 2, 2011.  Kathleen worked various positions in the clerical field, retiring from Overhead Door in  1995. She finished her “retirement job” working summers at Leisure Services for the City of  Waterloo. She stayed active with the Catholic Daughter’s of the Americas, Quota Club, Mercy  One Volunteer, and was a member of St. Edward Catholic Church.  

Survivors include: her daughter, Lureen (Earle) Patten; six grandchildren; Jesse Zmolek,  Jenn Forry, Katie (Rich) Price, Rosie (Chad) Meyer, Zane Patten, and Clay Patten; 9 great  grandchildren; her brothers, Kenny (Donna) Reiter and Terry (Dianne) Reiter.  

Preceded in death by: her parents; her husband; her son, Kevin Zmolek; her brothers,  Clem Jr.(Edith) Reiter, Robert (Marlene) Reiter, and Richard (Joan) Reiter; her brother-in-law,  Donald (Luella) Zmolek.  

Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, November 12th, at St. Edward  Catholic Church with burial at St. Mary’s of Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Eagle Center.  Memorials: may be directed to Catholic Daughter’s of the Americas or St. Edward  Catholic Church.