DES MOINES, Ia. — Katharina “Katie” (Lung) Basch, 95, of Des Moines, Iowa, formerly of Centralia, passed away Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

Katie was born on October 16th, 1927 in Hettin, Yugoslavia, (present-day nation of Serbia), to Peter Lung and Katharina (Schroeder) Lung. She married Dr. Erwin John Basch in Vienna, Austria on December 1, 1951. She and Dr. Basch immigrated to the USA in May of 1954. They were married for over 68 years until her husband’s death in January of 2020. She was an essential assistant in Dr. Basch’s Veterinary clinic for 38 years till their joint retirement in 1992.

Katie is survived by her two children: Elizabeth Meredith and husband Skip Ellis of Greeneville, Tennessee and Ed Basch and wife Barb of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Katie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two sisters, and a brother.

Katie was a long-time member of the St. Mary Catholic Church in Centralia. She enjoyed singing, listening to classical music and fine cooking. She enjoyed crafting and was very skilled at sewing. She was a life-long lover of animals and relished spending time with her family and friends. She will be dearly missed by everyone that knew her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 15th, 2023, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church in Centralia with Monsignor David Darin officiating. A private family burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Centralia. Memorial donations may be made to the Centralia Humane Society. They will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street in Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, which is honored to be of service to the Basch family.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Funeral Home’s Facebook page.