| Honored by: | Bob Nervig |
| Brick location: | A:28 map |
Kathy was born April 17, 1952, in Appleton, Wisconsin, to George and Ruth (Griesbach) Bernhagen. In 1958, the family moved to West Des Moines, Iowa, where Kathy attended Sacred Heart School and then Saint Joseph Academy - graduating in 1970. That same year, she enrolled at Iowa State University, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management. In 1980, she earned a Master of Arts degree in Nutrition Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Kathy was a Registered Dietitian and spent most of her career working in School Nutrition. This career path was launched at Cherry Creek Schools in Englewood, Colorado. In Iowa, she served as the Food Service Director at Ames, Nevada, Saydel and Southeast Polk School Districts. In addition, from 2001 to 2003, Kathy worked at Iowa State University as a lecturer in the Hospitality Management Department.
In the early 80s, Kathy met and ultimately married the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Nervig, on July 30, 1983, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Ames, Iowa. From this marriage came two children, Ross born in 1985 and Kelsey in 1987. The family enjoyed many years living on acreages in Nevada, Iowa; Sedalia, Colorado; and Cambridge, Iowa. They also lived for three years in Raleigh, North Carolina. For many of these years, Kathy was a stay-at-home mom doing her most important work- raising her children.
With a degree in hospitality, cooking and entertaining were obvious passions. Nothing was better to her than family and friends gathered around her dining room table. In 2012, she won the Our Iowa magazine chili cook-off contest. Other interest and hobbies include knitting, reading and scrapbooking. Kathy was also active and volunteered at all of the churches she and Bob attended over the years. Her Christian faith and spiritual life was always a priority. Matt 7:12
Submitted 9/96; updated 10/29/2013