Kathryn Marie (Kerswill) Dragseth was born November 24, 1983 in Denver. She was raised in Centennial, Colorado with a loving, large blended family. She graduated High School from Cherry Creek in 2002 and attended college at Luther in Decorah, Iowa. It was during her years at Luther that she met Kevin while working at Shores of St. Andrew Bible Camp in Minnesota. The year 2006 was a big year for Katie. In the spring, she graduated from Luther College with her degree in Elementary Education and ELA. Later that summer, she married Kevin in her home church of Bethany Lutheran. She also began her teaching career that fall at Village East Elementary, a place whose people and population she adored and cherished. She remained at Village East until the time of her death.
Katie lived life to the fullest. She made friends with everyone she came in contact with, even if she only knew them for five minutes. Her social circle was huge and she made time in her life for each and every person. She always thought of others first, even in the past few months when she had health struggles. To say she loved her Colorado Sports Teams would be an understatement. She could go head to head with any person in sports talk. Katie loved the outdoors, whether it be camping, on the lake, in the mountains, or sightseeing in a new city. Katie loved to travel and always had her eye on a destination. Some of her most memorable travel experiences were to Australia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, and her yearly trips to Michigan, New Jersey, Minnesota, and anywhere there was water. Katie loved music and was involved with numerous choirs, bands, and bell choirs. She attended hundreds of concerts and she could always be heard listening to Dave Mathews, Guster, Zach Brown Band, and Blink 182.
Katie’s priority in life was her family and she would drive across town or the country at any time to be with them. She loved holidays and yearly celebrations which allowed her to relax with a Fat Tire or a glass of wine. During these celebrations she could also be heard bantering with others about sports or doing sports trivia. Her most accomplished and gifted trait was her time as a mother. She found Joy and Love in everything surrounding Addison, Andrew, and Isaac. Katie’s motto was “The kids don’t need things, but rather experiences together”. Katie made sure this motto was upheld by traveling with her kids, going all out for holidays, and providing memberships to all the Denver kid attractions. She never skipped a night of singing to her kids before bed, even if this meant she did it over the phone or through Facetime. Even in the past few months as Katie struggled with her health, her main priority was Kevin and the kids. Katie had a beautiful soul with a compassionate heart. Her absence on this physical earth will be life changing for all who knew her.
Katie is survived by her husband, Kevin; children Addison (9), Andrew (6), and Isaac (2); mother Tina (Tom) Vanderstel; father Phil (Trish) Kerswill; siblings Kevin (Caroline) Kerswill, Genevieve (Jim) Lamancusa, Emily Vanderstel, Nick Vanderstel, and Nic (Angelica) Wismann; Grandparents Mary Ellen Rodgers, Bill Vanderstel, and Patricia Ronald; nieces and nephews Amara, Quinn, Laine, Anders, Annika, Bryson, Bennett, Malia, Macy, Cooper, Hudson, and Becker; Mother-In-Law Marge Dragseth; and sister in laws Jenny (Erik) Odden, Kirsten (Matt) Karels, and Emily (Mark) Mueller; and her very best friend Maggie (Todd) Carlson. Katie was also loved and cherished by many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, and her Village East Community.
Katie is predeceased by grandparents Bob Tholen, Norman and Marjorie Kerswill; Bill Rodgers, Marlene Vanderstel, Father-in-Law Jerry Dragseth; Uncle Ted Tholen; Aunt Mary Craddock; Uncle Richard Lee Ronald Jr.
