Kathleen M. Satersmoen

Kathleen “Kathy” Merrill Satersmoen (née Clark) passed away peacefully on November 24, 2024, at age 78, after a 7-year journey with Alzheimer's.

Preceded in death by parents, Irene and Lester Clark; sisters, Doris (Derickson) and Lois (Jocham); and brother, Thomas "Tom".

Survived by husband, James “Jim” after 57 years of marriage (would have been 58 years on December 17th); children, Scott (Terri), and Amy Stenger; grandchildren, Audrey, Henry, Samuel (Sam), and Vincent; numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathy became an active supporter of Como Zoo in St. Paul. She became a volunteer Docent when another kindergarten room mother, who became a lifelong friend, recruited her to join the Como Zoo Docents. She led numerous school zoo tours and outreach animal programs at schools and nursing homes. Kathy also fostered numerous baby animals for the Como Zoo prior to the zoo’s expansion of facilities to properly care for newborn animals. 

In the early 1980’s she became a board member of the nonprofit Como Zoological Society. In 1986 Kathy and another board member proposed making half of the newly vacated original zoo building into a Gift Shop that would be managed by the Como Zoological Society and the profits would go to the City of St. Paul to help fund running Como Zoo. The city accepted their proposal and the two board members became employees who operated and managed the Gift Shop. Zoodale, the Como Zoo Gift Shop opened in May 1987 and was later renamed Garden Safari Gifts and moved to the new Visitor Center in 2005 and has been consistently generating funds to help run the zoo and conservatory.

Kathy looked forward to the holidays and hosting friends and family gatherings at her home. She was a great cook and baker and loved making food for these events. One of her favorites was a Christmas Brunch with the family of a childhood friend since age 4 where she prepared food for 21 people. It was like going to a buffet. Every Christmas Kathy made caramels by the 100’s that she gave to family, friends, and co-workers. Kathy was an excellent seamstress, making clothes for her family and elaborate Halloween costumes for her children and later grandchildren. She even made Jim a leisure suit in the 1970’s, that made him feel like John Travolta. She also enjoyed watching her grandchildren’s school programs, music concerts and sporting events. Her grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Services are being planned for spring of 2025.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.