Catherine "Katie" Wallace

Services will be at 11:00 am Saturday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Davenport. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation is Friday from 5 to 7 pm at The Runge Mortuary. Memorials may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com.

Catherine was born the fourth of 10 children on October 28, 1931, in Davenport, to Alvin and Julia (Koenig) Blocker. She was part of a very close family, growing up during the Depression and through World War II.

Lucky in love, she met Charles “Chuck” V. Wallace on a blind date and they married a year later on Aug. 30, 1952, at St. Mark Lutheran Church.

Catherine centered her life around family, working hard with Chuck to make it possible for all five of their children to become first-generation college graduates. Life was full and joyous for “Katie,” as she was known by family and good friends.

She also was very devoted to her church family at St. Mark Lutheran Church where she served as a Bible School director, Church Council member and Decorating Committee chair, among many other things.

Along with her large family, Katie had many friends, some going back to her school days at Sudlow Junior High School and Davenport High School. At Sudlow, where she was the first girl president of the Student Council – with the campaign slogan “Make A Date , Vote for Kate” – she joined the Hep Cat Sub Deb club to work on projects for war-time soldiers. She continued to attend the monthly social meetings of this close-knit group of women the rest of her life. Katie also cherished life time friendships with her Probstei neighbors.

Katie was very creative and artistic, participating in annual craft bazaars with her cousin and sisters for many holiday seasons. She also enjoyed painting, gifting many of her creations that today grace the homes and offices of those she loved near and far away.

Katie liked to share her stories of growing up in a large family and then raising five diverse children. She worked at the lunch counter at Walgreens as a teen, waiting on Nat King Cole, who she said gave her a 35-cent tip, quite a bit back then. She also worked at M.A. Ford, where she would sneak away to the window to wave at her then husband-to-be as he passed on the Milwaukee Railroad train off of River Drive in Davenport. After her children were grown, she worked at Evergreen Artworks in Bettendorf.

Katie is survived by her children and their spouses: Christie Wallace Noring, Houston, Texas; Mindy and Tom Wilhelmi, Davenport, Iowa; Gary and Deb Wallace, Spring, Texas; Mark and Rachael Wallace, Oak Park, Illinois; and Sheri and Chad Dube, Austin, Texas. Also her grandchildren: Christopher and Brook Noring, Elburn, Illinois; Anthony and Laura Wilhelmi, Eldridge, Iowa; Lindsay and Scott Heinrichs, Davenport, Iowa; Ash Wallace and Tara Duarte, San Antonio, Texas; Whitney Wallace, Houston, Texas; and Juana Caballero and Raúl Cabrera, Oak Park, Illinois.

Her great grandchildren gave her extra special joy: Nola, Audrey, Letty and Sawyer Noring, Elburn; Lincoln and Ayla Wilhelmi, Eldridge; Caleb Heinrichs, Davenport; Emma Wallace, San Antonio; and Emma, Kevin and Christian Cabrera, Oak Park.

Katie also is survived by a sister, JudithTinkler, Eldridge, and a brother, Mikell Blocker, Davenport, as well as many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by siblings Norma Beadel, John Blocker, Linda Richters, Mary Groenbeck, Herb Blocker, Maxine Blocker and Julia Thee.

She will always be remembered for her kindness and generosity.

“Love you, love you Mom.”