Kay Frances Andresen Whitehead was born in Battle Creek, Iowa, on July 30, 1945, to Robert J. and Frances L. (Madsen) Andresen. She was baptized on September 30, 1945, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ida Grove, Iowa, where she was also confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1959. She was received into God’s kingdom on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the age of 79.
Kay spent her early years on a dairy farm outside of Holstein, Iowa, and attended Holstein Public Schools through the 3rd grade, when the Andresen family then moved to Ida Grove. One of her earliest memories after moving from the farm was how much she disliked the taste of store-bought milk. She attended Ida Grove Public Schools through her high school graduation in May of 1963. She was an active student throughout her time in high school, serving on the cheerleading squad, participating in the drama club, and acting as senior class treasurer. After high school Kay attended Lutheran School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating as an RN in 1966.
Growing up, Kay often worked at her father’s DX service station, and later sharpened her roller-skating skills as a carhop at the local drive-in. She was also a proud German American and would play accordion in a polka band.
On July 16, 1965, Kay was united in marriage to Ronald Christiansen of Castana, Iowa, whom she met while he was a tenant living in her grandmother’s home. Together they would have two children – Ronda Kay and Brian Robert. The family relocated to Audubon in 1970 where Kay’s nursing career would take many forms: she was a hospital nurse at Audubon County Hospital, a clinic nurse, an Audubon County Public Health nurse, and a floor nurse at the Friendship Home. She spent the last 15 years of her nursing career as the Assistant Director of Nursing at the Exira Care Center, where many of the staff she worked with would care for her in the later years of her life.
Kay was united in marriage to Darrell Whitehead on March 20, 1992, and the two lived together on an acreage north of Audubon until Darrell’s death in 2020. They formed a lasting bond and spent a great deal of their retirement years traveling.
Much like her high school years, Kay was an active resident within the Audubon community. She was a 4H leader, member of the Audubon Lion’s Club, a board member with the Audubon Chamber of Commerce, acted in many theater productions of the Audubon Country Players and was active at St. John’s Lutheran Church. However, Kay’s proudest achievement was being a grandma to her eight grandchildren who she would excessively spoil for many summers at her beloved Grandma Camp.
Kay is survived by her children, Ronda (Mike) Arnold of Paynesville, Minnesota, and Brian (Jess) Christiansen of Omaha, Nebraska; her 8 grandchildren, Nate Arnold, Heather Arnold, Jake (Vanessa) Arnold, Lexi Christiansen, Maddy Christiansen, Livy Christiansen, Erin Christiansen, and Chelsea Christiansen; and 1 great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Arnold. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Darrell.
Kay’s funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA, with Rev. Mike Bodkins officiating the service. Interment will follow the funeral at Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. Following the committal at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish Center in Audubon, a luncheon will occur.
Public visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon.
Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church in memory of Kay and mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon.
