Cathleeen Georgia Bonstead

Sioux City, IA – Cathleen G. Bonstead, 73, of Sioux City, IA, died Thursday, April 24th, 2025, in Sioux City, IA.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Parish-St. Michael Catholic Church. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., at Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, Larkin Chapel (2320 Outer Dr. N.).

Cathleen was born in Estherville, IA, on November 29, 1951, to Chris Gurnee Gifford and Mary Ellen (Corkery) Gifford. She was raised in Estherville, often working at her parents’ store, Anthony’s. She was the youngest of two children, her older brother Chris Gifford. She attended Estherville High School where she was active in youth ministry and choir. After High School, she attended the College of St Theresa in Winona, MN.

After college, she returned to Estherville where she returned to the family store and eventually started a job at The Estherville News. She sold advertising and loved driving around to all her customers.

In 1972, she met her husband, Steve, and they were married on June 15, 1973.

Over the next decade, they became parents of three sons: Kyle Christopher, Kellon Michael, and Kurtis Steven.

They moved to Sioux City in 1982. Quickly after moving to Sioux City, Cathleen started working for the Diocese of Sioux City as the director of Youth Ministry. She championed restarting and growing Camp CAYOCA as a summer camp for the diocese. She also grew the Search Program throughout the diocese. Cathleen was a member of Nativity and St. Michaels Parish. She took an active role in teaching confirmation classes, sponsoring RCIA candidates, lecturing and distributing communion. She and Steve also sponsored many couples in marriage preparation within the church.

For 30 years, she operated Hugs and Giggles Day Care out of her home. There she had lifelong impacts on 100’s of children. Many of those to this day still call her Grandma Cathleen. Always the loudest voice in the crowd, Cathleen loved watching and coaching her sons throughout baseball and soccer. Transitioning to Grandma, the kids could still always recognize Grandma’s voice.

Over the last decade, Cathleen chaired “The Pink Tea”, a fundraiser for women with cancer in the Siouxland area. They were able to help many women with money for bills, rent and other necessities.

In her spare time, Cathleen loved to make all kinds of crafts, play card club with friends, watch endless movies on Hallmark or Lifetime, and spend as much time as she could with family and loved ones. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Steve, cherished Aunt Catherine, and sister-in-law Virginia Gifford. Her memory will be cherished by her son, Kyle Bonstead, and grandchildren Keegan, Breckan and Creighton; her son, Kellon Bonstead; her son, Kurtis Bonstead, wife Erin, and grandchildren Quinnlyn and Ayse; brother Dr. Chris Gifford; and countless nieces and nephews of three generations.