Kathleen Joan Stenger

Visitation will be held Friday September 18, 2026 from 4 - 6 pm at the Runge Mortuary and Crematory. Funeral services will be held Saturday September 19, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Davenport at 1pm. The address of the church is 1401 North Perry Street, Davenport. She will be laid to rest at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery following services. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rungemortuary.com

Kathleen (Kathy), affectionately known as “Sissy” to her family, was born on September 3, 1932, in Davenport, to Rollo (Jack) and Evelyn Ide. She graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1950. She worked as a secretary for an insurance agency in the bustling, 1950’s, downtown Davenport. That is where she met William “Bill” Dirlam in 1956 and they married in 1957. They made their home in Davenport where they raised four daughters. Kathy and Bill moved to Winona, MN in 1981, and spent nine happy years there. They were married 33 years until Bill’s death in 1990. Kathy moved back to Davenport in 1991 where she ran into a high school classmate, Bill Stenger. Kathy married Bill Stenger in December 1992 and they were married for 33 years. Kathy was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Davenport for over 70 years.

Kathy and Bill spent their retirement years traveling the country, especially enjoying National Parks, and visiting relatives. Their favorite, annual trip was to the Outer Banks in North Carolina with Kathy’s sisters, brother and their spouses.

Kathy loved movies from the 1940’s and 1950’s. Cary Grant was a favorite. She also loved music from those eras and had a song for every occasion. She could always relate a song to any occasion or event you were going through and sing it for you. She had a beautiful, soprano voice and shared her voice as a soloist at weddings. Kathy loved to knit and was a whiz at Wheel of Fortune. Her love of knitting, flower gardening, singing, dogs, coffee drinking and Whitey’s chocolate sodas were passed down to her daughters and grandchildren.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Bill Stenger; daughters Beth (Ed) Williamson, Linda Dirlam, Mary (Tim) Cox, Diane (Ron) Miller, stepson Don (Karen) Stenger; grandchildren Christopher (Rachel) Williamson, Ashley (David) Hoobler, Emma Miller, and Meredith Cox (fiancé Loften Grimm); great grandchildren Lily, Mabel, Jesse, James, Archie, and Leroy; and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

Kathy is preceded in death by her first husband, Bill Dirlam, her sisters Marilyn Partin and Donna McGrath, and brother, Jack Ide.

Memorials may be made in Kathy's name to First Baptist Church of Davenport.