Agnes McKone, age 94, of Carroll, died Monday, February 26, 2024, at Northfield Retirement Community in Northfield, MN.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur. Lectors will be Meredith Burks and Courtney Burks. Gift Bearers will be Susan Burks, Bill McKone, and Dr. Tim McKone. Eucharistic Minister will be Marian McKone. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Hank Potthoff and Ron Schechtman. Casket Bearers will be Michael McKone, James McKone, Paulo McKone, Kaleb McKone, Dr. Jedd Hagen, and Jim Greteman. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A Rosary and time of sharing will be held at 6:30 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Saturday morning where visitation will resume from 9:30a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or church to be left in Agnes McKone’s name directed to the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Agnes family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Agnes Lorraine Kirsch McKone was born February 2, 1930 in Charles City, Iowa. Agnes was the sixth child and fifth daughter of Louis and Eva (Wolf) Kirsch. Agnes grew up shy – she said because her sisters did all the talking – and with a love of science. She was the only girl in her high school physics class and one of her first jobs was with the Floyd County Weed Commissioner’s office. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Charles City in 1948. She then attended Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Agnes graduated with a degree in Medical Technology which allowed her to indulge her love of chemistry, microbiology and pathology.
Agnes met Bob McKone at the American Legion Club in Charles City. They wed on September 4, 1954 at Immaculate Conception Church in Charles City. Bob worked as an insurance salesman and they lived first in Mason City where Susan was born, then to Spencer, then Spirit Lake where Timothy was born, then Atlantic and finally to Carroll where Joseph and William were born. They loved living in Carroll and developed many close friendships that greatly enriched their lives. Agnes worked at St. Anthony Hospital eventually becoming director of the laboratory. She also worked for the Carroll County ambulance service as an EMT and convinced her sons Tim and Joseph to join her in training so all three could work for the service. Timothy eventually went on to medical school and earned his MD degree and Joseph earned his RN degree. Agnes held the position of director of the Lab for 30 years before retiring in 1992. She remained on staff as a part-time cytotechnologist until she retired completely at age 80.
Agnes and Bob were devout Catholics. They were members of St. Lawrence Parish and their children attended and graduated from St. Lawrence School and Kuemper High School. All her life Agnes prayed the rosary and was deeply committed to attending Sunday mass. Bob and Agnes were active in the Elks Club. They enjoyed the annual family reunion trips to Holly’s Resort on Ottertail Lake in Minnesota. They also made many fishing trips to Canada and winter trips to Florida. She enjoyed golf at the Country Club and Municipal golf courses. She and Bob were active in the Carroll Community Theatre. Agnes enjoyed playing in many bridge clubs over the years and bridge continued to be one of the last pleasures she had late in life. In 2018 Agnes moved to Northfield, MN to be closer to her son, Tim. She was living at the Northfield Retirement Community at the time of her death.
Survivors include her children, Susan McKone (Doug) Burks, Decorah, Dr. Tim (Marian) McKone, Northfield, MN., William (Marion) McKone, Centennial, CO., daughter-in-law, Margaret McKone, Lisbon. Eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, sister Arlis Ford of Hiawatha. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert who passed away on April 20, 2014, her son Joseph, her parents, Louis and Eva Kirsch, her brother and sister-in-law Robert Kirsch and Phyllis, sisters and brothers-in-law Helen McGee and Mike, Lois Havlik and Bob, Marie DeBakey and Ray, and brother-in-law Bob Ford.