Catherine Irene Bushby

Catherine Irene Bushby, age 98, of Longwood, Florida, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 2, 2025, at a hospital in Orlando, following a brief illness.

Born on January 8, 1927, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Catherine was the daughter of Clifford and Kathryn (Brown) Fitkin. On April 24, 1954, she married Richard F. Bushby at St. Athanasius Catholic Church in Jesup, Iowa.

Throughout her career, Catherine was employed at Beecher Law Firm, St. Francis Hospital, and Schoitz (now MercyOne) Hospital, where she retired in 1989. In addition to her professional life, she devoted herself to raising ten children and helping to care for many of her grandchildren, always with love, strength, and faith.

Catherine is survived by her children:
• Sons: David Bushby (Cedar Falls), Robert Bushby (Waterloo), and Frederick (Christine) Bushby of Prattville, Alabama
• Daughters: Ann Balm-Olson (Tim) of Dubuque; Margo Cerney (Chuck) of Rockford, Illinois; Mary (Tim) Hanson; Barbara Bushby (travel nurse, various locations); Sheila (Steve) Kerns of Waterloo; and Regina (Randy) Jamieson of Longwood, Florida,
Daughter-in-Law Barbara Bushby

She is also survived by her many grandchildren: Joan Rasmussen (Corey), Lori Wolf (Brad), Lisa Zavala (Jeff), Amanda Hutchens, Sarah Sherwood, Brian Hutchens (Melinda), Dustin Balm, Ashley Thies (Kristian), Derek Balm, David Roy Bushby, Frederick Bushby, Andrew Bushby, Jacob Bushby, Gabriella Bushby, Jack Jamieson, and Erik Jamieson.

Step-grandchildren include Jeff Olson (Lynn), Sara Taylor (Chris), Adam Kerns (Kimberly), Katie Meyer (Ryan), Victoria Cerney, Chuck Cerney, and Mark Jamieson (Chelsea).

She is further survived by numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren who brought her immense joy.

Catherine was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard F. Bushby; her son, Richard J. Bushby; her grandson, Daniel Balm; her son-in-law, Dr. Dale W. Olson; and her parents.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will follow the Mass. Inurnment at St. Athanasius Cemetery in Jesup, Iowa, will take place at a later date.

Wake and Rosary (Beginning at 4PM) will be held at the Hickory Hills Lakeview Lodge on Tuesday October 28, 2025.

Catherine will be remembered for her faith, resilience, devotion to family, and the warmth she shared with all who knew her.