Kathlyn "Kathy" Renee Oakland

Kathlyn “Kathy” Renee Oakland, 76, passed away following a brief illness, surrounded by her family, at the Martin Suites at Western Home Communities on Sunday, March 15, 2026. She was born near Goldfield, Iowa, on July 2, 1949, daughter of Truman and Ruby (Ulstad) Egemo. Kathy graduated from Story City High School in 1967, Waldorf College in 1969, then attended UNI where she earned her B.A. in 1971 and her M.A. in 1987. She married her high school sweetheart, Merle Oakland, on August 14, 1971, at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Story City. Kathy followed her true calling to be a teacher and taught English and Speech to junior high and high school students in Ringstead, LaPorte City, Dike and at NUHS. She began teaching future educators at UNI beginning in 1992 and continued doing so until her retirement in 2018. An inspiring instructor, she deeply loved her students and challenged them to become the best versions of themselves. She created learning environments rooted in connection; linking people, experiences, and real-life perspectives in meaningful ways. She truly embodied “Human Relations at its finest,” a phrase Kathy often used and fully lived by.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years, Merle; son, Nathan (Alex) Oakland of Cedar Falls; daughter, Maegan (Chris) Lemon of Cedar Falls; and her chosen daughters: Nancy Umuhire (Geert) Bemelmans, Nadine Ishimwe and Diane Ihimbazwe all of Charlotte, NC; 10 grandchildren: Jordann, Eli, Kaiden, Quinncy, Maddox, Henry, Liliann, Sam, Lia and Mae; a brother, Larry (Joyce) Egemo of Story City; and sister, Klorys (Ron) Happe of Fair Oaks, CA.

Kathy’s Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Nazareth Lutheran Church of Cedar Falls. (Livestream available at https://www.naz.org/ click "Watch Live"). Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm on Friday, March 27, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home. Flowers and plants are beautiful but don’t last long. Instead, the family strongly encourages remembering and honoring Kathy with a Memorial Gift directed either to a Scholarship Fund in her Name at UNI (click on "other designation" and type in "Kathy Oakland"), or mail to: In Memory of Kathy Oakland, UNI Foundation, 204 Commons, Cedar Falls, IA 50614; or to the Missions Fund at Nazareth Lutheran Church, or mail to: Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church, Attn: Finance, 7401 University Ave., Cedar Falls, IA 50613.

Kathy NEVER met a stranger and she wanted everyone to know that Jesus loved them. She loved hard and wanted those around her to become the best version of themselves possible. Kathy saw the word “no” as incentive to negotiate and seek solutions. She was given an honorary title of “Director of Magic” by a former UNI colleague as she was fearless in advocating for what she believed in, unafraid to ask, and persistent in seeing things through. Kathy was a great mother and loved ALL of her children and grandchildren unconditionally through the best and worst times that life brought them. She will be deeply missed by those who loved and knew her best.