Katherine (Kate) Gusts, 85, of Walker, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at her son’s home in Janesville, MN.

Born on Nov. 3, 1925, in Nuremberg, Germany, to Babette and Johann Kreutzer, Kate grew up and attended school in Nuremberg. During World War II, she met and married her husband Karlis while he was stationed in Nuremberg. In 1949, Kate and Karl moved to the United States with their daughter, Elsa, to Grand Meadow, Minn., and lived there for two years before they moved to Austin. While in Austin, Kate worked in the restaurant and retail fields until she retired to Walker in 1982.

Kate was a member of Hope Lutheran Church, Leech Lake Red Hat Society and the Leech Lake Senior Citizen’s Center in Walker. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, reading, and watching John Wayne movies. Kate especially enjoyed visiting with family and spending time with friends in Walker. She was a very stoic woman of strong faith and conviction.

Kate is survived by four daughters and one son, Elsa and Harry Roberts of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Helmut and Lucinda Gusts of Janesville, Betty and Richard Johnson of Austin, Netty and Joe Pacino of Lodi, Calif., and Sandra and Joe Mendes of Leesburg, Va. Kate was blessed with nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and her canine companion, Yuki.

Kate was preceded in death by her husband Karlis; parents Babette and Johann Kreutzer; brother Eduard Kreutzer.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, June 17, at Hope Lutheran Church in Walker. Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Hope Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 506, Walker, MN, 56484-0506, or Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospice, P.O. Box 8673, Mankato, MN, 56002-8673.