Kathleen Hardman

Obituary of Kathleen Hardman

Kathleen Kay Hardman 78, Milford, IA was born April 20, 1944, and went to be with Jesus Nov 16, 2022. Kathleen loved life and always shared a smile, an encouraging word and a hug when you needed it. She touched the hearts of many with her kindness.

Celebration of Life Service for Kathleen Hardman, age 78, of Milford will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 1:30pm at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. To watch the recording of the service, click the following link: https://youtu.be/bTuRu3h4LQw. Inurnment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Visitation will take place on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 5:00-7:00pm at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. In  lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given in memory of Kathleen. The memorials will be used as donations towards different charities. 

Kathleen married the love of her life Calvin Leon Hardman on December 4, 1965, and the grass was still green. We always asked how that was possible in Dec because there was always snow on the ground when we were younger. From this union they had two daughters Julie and Susan.

Kathleen loved First Lutheran. She was very involved in the church from teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, being involved with the Alter Guild, Circle Group, and making things for the Church. She was also a Brownie Leader, helped with 4-H. Kathleen was a loud supporter at events and could be heard from the stands whether cheering for her daughters or grandchildren and the Sioux Falls Storm football team. If she could not attend, she always said, “I’ll be thinking of you and praying for you. Call me right away and fill me in on EVERYTHING!”

She enjoyed singing along with Elvis, who was her favorite, while sewing and quilting. She had a green thumb and loved gardening, but especially loved her flower garden. She enjoyed the beautiful flowers watching them grow and the bumble bees and butterflies that came as well. She always said “it was God’s painting canvas” with all the beautiful colors. She also enjoyed drawing, watching songs birds and was excited when she got to see eagles. Her love for animals has been passed down to her girls and her grands and great grands. She especially loved wolves. When she wasn’t helping on the farm she cleaned houses, it was a nice little business. She also enjoyed working at several resorts, and a couple of restaurants over the years. A fond memory from her childhood was watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show.

Kathleen is survived and will be deeply missed by her husband Calvin of Milford, IA; Daughter Julie and (Keith) Eischen of Forest City, IA and their children Jillian, Trevor (Brittany) and Evan, great grands Linkin and Emberlee Eischen, Daughter Susan and (Donovan) Carpenter of Brandon, SD and their Children Devin and Rebekah. Honorary Family: Daughter Annette Miller Lahm; honorary grandchild Amanda Ode; Drew Skjeie and great grands Oliver and Rhapsody. Brothers John (Helen) Brandt, Mike (Marie) Brandt, Judy Rud, Myrtle King.

She is preceded in death by parents Warren and Louise Brandt and brother David Brandt, Rex and Minnie Hardman, Mary and Lyle Hilliker and many aunts and uncles and cousins.