Barbara Elaine Katzenmeier

Barbara Katzenmeier (Strouse), 81, of Kansas, formerly of Sioux City, IA, remembered for her unwavering faith and devotion to family, passed away January 25, 2026. A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Barbara Katzenmeier, born February 4, 1944, in Ashland, Kansas, passed away after a life marked by grace, compassion, and quiet strength. The daughter of Charles and Marie (Showalter) Strouse, Barbara grew up in the close-knit community of Ashland before attending Fort Hays University, where she met the love of her life, Ivan Katzenmeier. They shared 59 years of marriage, building a life centered around faith, family, and service.

Barbara began her professional journey as a social worker with the Kansas Department of Social Services, offering care and support to those in need. Later, she taught at Hutchinson Community College and the Kansas State Penitentiary, bringing patience and wisdom to every classroom. But her most cherished role was that of wife and mother, a calling she embraced with wholehearted devotion.

A woman of deep faith, Barbara spent countless hours in prayer and study of the Bible. She found comfort and inspiration in Christian historical fiction and expressed her creativity through sewing. Her home was a place of warmth, filled with love, laughter, and the quiet hum of a life well-lived.

She was preceded in passing by her parents; her husband; and her brothers: Bill, Monte, and Gary.

She is survived by her son, Hans and daughter-in-law LiLi; daughter, Kathryn Heitman and her husband Jim; grandchildren: Dryw Heitman, Justin Heitman, Charlie Heitman, Samuel Katzenmeier, and Tovia Robuck and her husband Nic, and Claudette Katzenmeier; and many cherished friends and extended family.

Barbara’s legacy is one of faith, love, and resilience. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.