Kathleen Mary Niesman

Kathleen Mary Niesman (Kathy), 78, of Plano Texas, passed away on July 27, 2026. Born on July 17, 1948, in Chicago, IL, to Kenneth and Dorothy Niesman. An extraordinary woman, Kathy was the “first” in many aspects: first of five children; first graduating class of Bishop Lynch HS; first co-ed freshman class at St Edwards. She was the first person you called when you had news to share, the first to celebrate when things were great, and first to comfort you when things were hard. She was always there for the people she loved (and who loved her deeply). While she grew up in Dallas, Kathy lived in Chicago most of her life and was a woman of great accomplishment. She earned her MBA from DePaul University while working full time for International Harvester. Over four decades there, she left an impact. She forged many life-long friendships through her work and even traveled the world with many of those incredible friends. In retirement, she moved to Dallas to be near family. She treasured every opportunity to spend time with her four siblings and many nieces and nephews: whether gathered around the table for a celebration, cheering from the sidelines at sporting events, attending school activities, or watching a performance on stage. Her love and support were constant. Kathy’s greatest legacy is the love she gave so freely. Her presence brought warmth, familiarity, and a sense of belonging that will be deeply missed. Her interest in family genealogy reflected a foundational part of who she was: a deep appreciation for where she came from and the family history that connected generations. Kathy read voraciously. She loved Christmas. She loved Diet Coke, Cheetos, and Scrabble. She loved to travel and to spend time at the lake. She had a beautiful smile and was quick to laugh. She was smart, kind, encouraging, and FUN. Kathy will be remembered with tremendous love and gratitude by her sister and three brothers, their spouses, her nieces and nephews, extended family members, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. She taught everyone close to her that the greatest treasures in life are the people we love and the time we share with them. Kathy was a special presence in the lives of so many who were fortunate enough to know her.