The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Kathryn Margaret (Leffler) Debus passed away on Saturday, July 4, 2020 in Haxtun at the age of 86.

Kathryn was born on Aug. 20, 1933 at her parents' home in Greeley to Carl and Hattie Eisenach Leffler. She graduated from Greeley High School in 1951. On Aug. 2, 1959, she married Arlen Debus at St. Paul's Congregational Church in Greeley. They would have been married 61 years this coming August. To this union, three daughters were born: Marsha in 1960, Janette in 1962 and Colleen in 1963.

The couple began their married life in Wauneta, Neb. and in 1961 they moved to the family homestead in Crook. She was a very loving and dedicated wife and mother, raising their daughters and working alongside Arlen on the family farm. In 1976, the family relocated to Haxtun. Kathryn loved to bake, sew, read, needlepoint and play cards with friends and family. She was a very tenderhearted person who had a warm and friendly personality and easily made friends with everyone she came in contact with. Her family was the joy of her life and many Sundays the family was around her dinner table.

Kathryn's grandchildren were her highlight and very often she could be found attending their activities and spending as much time with them as she could. She loved to spoil them with her hugs, kisses and cookies. She and Arlen hosted three high school exchange students from Mexico, becoming very close to Alex, Jorge and Oscar. She and Arlen loved to travel, taking as many road trips as they could, including a trip to Mexico to meet their exchange students' families.

In February of 2002, she and Arlen took a family trip with all of their children and grandchildren to Disneyland. Three months later in May, Kathryn suffered a massive stroke leaving her a paraplegic. In January 2013, Kathryn's health declined making it necessary for her to live her remaining days at the Haxtun Extended Care Unit. She and Arlen spent her final days together at the ECU. Kathryn will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all who knew her. Kathryn never got the joy of meeting her newest great-grand daughter who was born in March.

Kathryn is survived by loving husband Arlen of 60 years; daughters Marsha Hagemeyer and husband Dennis, Haxtun, Janette Michel and husband Gary, Atwood, and Colleen Lockwood and husband Rick, Haxtun; grandchildren Alison Michel, Atwood, Jordan Hagemeyer and wife Taylor, Sidney, Neb., Andrew Michel, Atwood, Kaitlin Hiller and husband Kirk, Haxtun, Karci Mattson and husband Geoff, Grand Junction; great-grandchildren Palmer Brooke and Ian Hagemeyer, Sidney, and Hallie Hiller, Haxtun; sister-in-law Betty Norden and husband Roy, Ft. Collins; brothers-in-law Art Debus and wife Judy, Sterling, and Walter Amen, Iliff; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her parents Carl and Hattie Leffler; brother Maurice Leffler; sisters Louise Amen and Mary Kissler; and brother-in-law Roland Kissler.

Memorial contributions may be made in Kathryn's honor to the American Stroke Association.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10 at the Haxtun Berean Bible Church at 10 a.m. with Pastor Eric Wait officiating.