Kathryn Kay Gillespie

On Friday, Nov 11, 2022, Kathryn “Kay” Gillespie, left our world at age eighty-three. An avid reader, Kay earned a bachelor’s degree in education and worked as a speech therapist in Truman and East Chain. From the time she was a child, she was known for being able to do anything “at least as well as the boys”.  She was a woman of many talents, known for her amazing artistry and craftsmanship, whether arranging flowers, painting, weaving, gardening, cooking, or decorating. For many, she was known for her business acumen, as one of the owners of Mad Antiques, and her many other entrepreneurial businesses. She utilized her bank teller experience serving on the Madelia Hospital Board, and the financial board at St. Mary’s Church in earlier years.

Kay gained her pioneering spirit from her parents George and Cora (Halvorson) Gronewold, and is probably best remembered for her traveling adventures, being an avid storyteller and historian. As the creator of Scarecrow Days in Lewisville and a former director of the Madelia Chamber of Commerce, she loved to bring community together, particularly to celebrate the historic events of Watonwan County. She felt there was no such thing as “too much education” and dove into each new hobby, attending a class and then giving it her own original touch.

She will be dearly missed by all, as many recall she and her husband, Dick, traveling in a snowstorm on Valentine’s Day of 2021 to deliver cupcakes to those who had helped them during COVID.

She is preceded in death by her husband of sixty-two years, Richard "Dick" Gillespie;  her daughter, Kara Marie and brothers; Clem of Lake Crystal and Phil of Lewisville.

She is survived by her son, Tim (and wife, Terri) Gillespie in Arizona and her daughter Amy (and husband, Dan) Dougherty of Virginia, as well as her brother, Jerry of Lewisville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Watonwan County Historical Society or the Madelia Library.