Katie Thoreen, 96

Kathryn Esther “Katie” Thoreen, 96, of Colorado, formerly of Red Oak, passed away Friday, March 23, 2012, at the Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colo.  

Katie was born to Neil and Mary Tobiasen Carmichael May 13, 1915, in Harlan. She grew up on the Carmichael farm, attending rural schools through eighth grade and then graduated from Harlan High.

After graduation, she attended beauty school in Sioux City. She lived with the Tobiasen family (her mother’s brother) while attending beauty school. After school, she returned to Harlan to begin a life long career of hair styling.

Katie married Tom Marcum, a World War II veteran and newspaper advertising salesman from Red Oak, on May 30, 1948. The Marcum family made their home in Red Oak where Katie began a beauty shop in their home. They also began a family with the addition of sons, Jim and Bill. Katie and Tom raised their family and were active members of the Presbyterian Church and other social groups. Tom passed away in August of 1978.  

Katie remained in Red Oak until 1988, when she married her old family friend George Thoreen July 3, 1988, in Lexington, Neb., where they made their home.

Katie was very active in the community, her church and many volunteer activities, including serving Meals on Wheels until the age of 90.

George passed away in December of 1994.

Katie moved to Colorado in October of 2011 to be near her son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Cheri Marcum, and their children.  

Katie is survived by her sons, Thomas James “Jim” (Cheri) Marcum, of Larkspur, Colo., and William Neil “Bill” (Mattie) Marcum, of Corpus Christi, Texas; grandchildren, Mike and Michelle, of Larkspur, and Neil, of Corpus Christi, and six other grandchildren; step children, Lynn (Bruce) Smith and Rick (Lynda) Thoreen; step grandchildren, Burke, Stacy, Stefany, Traci and Nick; and great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will take place Friday, March 30, at 1 p.m., at the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak.