Katherine "Kathy" E. Faust

Katherine “Kathy” Faust, age 78, passed away on February 18, 2026, at M Health Fairview. Arrangements are pending for Kathy. Memorials are preferred. Caring for Kathy and her family is the LeMieur Funeral Home In Pierz, MN. Kathy was born on January 22, 1948, in Princeton, Minnesota, to Edmund and Audrey (Katy) Schneppenheim. She was the oldest of seven children. She spent her younger years in Wahkon, Minnesota, including a few years living on the O’Bannon farm. As the eldest child, she stepped naturally into a role of responsibility, helping care for her younger siblings: Cecile, Edmund, Karen, Therese, Olivia, and Michael. She attended Wahkon Elementary School and Isle High School through the 11th grade. Later in life, she earned her GED and went on to attend Central Lakes College in Brainerd, studying to become a travel agent. In her school years, she played clarinet in the band. In her youth, Kathy enjoyed spending time outdoors, helping make maple syrup with her family and fishing at the lake. She faithfully visited her Schneppenheim grandparents nearly every Sunday — a tradition that reflected the strong family bonds that would shape her life. Kathy worked at Onamia Hospital, where she met Elmer Faust. On July 13, 1965, they were married in Wahkon, Minnesota. After their marriage, she moved to the Faust home farm, where she lived for the remainder of her life. The farm became the center of her family and daily work for more than sixty years. Kathy devoted herself to raising their four sons, Joseph, Bruce, Gregory, and Peter, and to dairy farming alongside her husband, Elmer. In their early years, she enjoyed helping with their 4-H animal projects through the Pierz Boosters 4-H Club, encouraging responsibility and pride in their work. She undertook raising meat rabbits, hatching eggs, and maintained a large garden to help provide for her family. As life shifted and her family grew, she embraced the cherished role of grandmother. She treasured time spent with her grandchildren and always had some sort of dessert ready for them when they would stop in at the farmhouse to visit for a while. Watching the next generation grow brought her deep pride and happiness. Kathy was especially known for her candy-making skills and the many desserts she lovingly prepared for family gatherings and holidays. She also had a deep passion for researching her family’s heritage on both sides, eagerly sharing what she discovered with others. Kathy’s life was defined by commitment — to her family, her home, her history, and the land she cared for. Kathy is survived by her husband, Elmer Faust; her sons, Bruce (Brenda), Gregory (special friend Jan), and Peter (MaryAlice); her grandchildren, Kyle and Mikayla Faust; Riley, Lane, Trace (Mabel) Faust; Tyler (Ava) Faust; her great-grandchild, Westin Faust; her siblings Cecile (Jerry) Dahlgren, Edmund Schneppenheim, Therese (Mark) Manley, Olivia (Gregory) Root, and Michael (Judy) Schneppenheim; her brother-in-law, Tom Stine; along with extended family members. She was preceded in death by her son, Joseph; her sister, Karen Stine; and her parents, Edmund Schneppenheim, Audrey (Katy) and Leonard Goldman.

Tributes

Katherine "Kathy" E. Faust

January 22, 1948 - February 18, 2026