Kathryn Ann Elfstrum

Kathryn Elfstrum, age 81, of Cottage Grove, passed away April 9, 2025.

Memorial Service will be 11 AM with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM, Monday, April 21, 2025 at Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church, 6875 Jamaica Ave. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Interment will be at the Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. The family would like to thank the staff members at United Hospital and Minnesota Oncology for the kindness and care that they provided.

Kathryn Ann (Hensel) Elfstrum was born August 28, 1943 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Alfred and Edna (Snyder) Hensel. She married Robert Elfstrum on October 26, 1963 and was blessed with two daughters, Susan and Laura. Kathryn was a loving wife, homemaker and stay at home mom. She provided childcare for her grandchildren who will forever cherish the memories of the time they spent together, especially Wednesday Fun Days.

When her grandchildren no longer needed childcare, she started working at Rose of Sharon Lutheran Church, Sonshine Preschool. There she continued to share her love and the love of Jesus with children and families for 20 years.

Kathryn enjoyed shopping, art and craft fairs, county fairs, the Minnesota State Fair, collecting P Buckly Moss art, playing Bunco, 500 and Chicken Feet (dominoes), hosting holidays, dining out, chatting on the phone, and visiting with family and friends. Nana and Kitty, as she was known by her family, was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.

Kathryn is survived by daughter Susan (Charles) Banach; grandchildren Ryan (Catherine) MacLellan, Justin (Xin) Banach, Kara (Tyler) McMahon, Alex Hansen and Lindsey (Eric) Stifter; siblings JoAnn Lano (Bill Friberg), Robert (Shirley) Hensel, Nancy (Steve) Huonder; great-grandsons Mason Stifter, Rowan McMahon, Maxwell McMahon, Bennett Banach and a great-granddaughter expected in July and many nieces and nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert and daughter Laura Elfstrum.