Katharine "Katie/Kate" Sisson

Katharine (Katie / Kate) Eastman (Harms) Sisson, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the age of 38. 

Katie was born on May 17, 1985, in Holdrege, the oldest of four children to Greg and Julie (Teter) Harms. She was baptized on June 16, 1985, on Father’s Day at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wilcox, Nebraska. She was confirmed at St. John’s on March 28, 1999. She graduated with the first combined class of 2003 from Wilcox-Hildreth High School. 

Katie did ballet and tap throughout her childhood at the Nelson Dance Studio in Holdrege. During summers in high school, she worked at both nursing homes in Holdrege. She often worked on the family farm with her siblings, mom, and dad with crops and animals. Katie was involved in many sports and activities throughout her school years including volleyball, basketball, track, cheerleading & dance team. 

Katie furthered her education at the University of Nebraska-Kearney with a bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in Communication Disorders. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in Speech and Language Pathology in 2008. She was then employed at the Educational Service Unit #11 in Holdrege and served Arapahoe, Cambridge, Elwood, and Southern Valley school systems. She was then employed by the Arapahoe Public School System as an independent Speech Language Pathologist beginning in 2021. 

Kate and Brian Michael Sisson began dating in October of 2003 with the two of them uniting in marriage on August 2, 2008, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastors Kenton Birtell & Mel Mertens officiating. They were blessed with three children: Graham Brian (13), Harper Reese (11), and Millie Jo (6). The family made their home in Arapahoe in 2008, with them becoming members at Trinity Lutheran Church of Arapahoe in 2011 after transferring from St John’s in Wilcox. 

She taught Sunday School and Mid-week School for several years at Trinity, Kate was a mentor of The Arapahoe Team-Mates chapter, she was very involved in Vacation Bible School, & a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). 

Katie looked forward to spending her entire summer vacation with her family. She loved to go boating at Harry Strunk Lake with Brian and the kids, taking family vacations to a new state every summer, making family trips to local museums learning about the history of the area, creating yearly memory books for G, H, & M, and supporting her children in their sports and activities throughout the year.  Being an avid reader, she enjoyed weekly trips with her kids to the Arapahoe Public Library, and was also a key supporter for Brian with his numerous roles for the Arapahoe Fire Department / HEA Rural Fire District #5. 

Katie could always light up a room with her vibrant smile, wonderful sense of humor, and genuine, kind soul. She cared deeply for her family, friends, and students. Being a wife and mother was her dearest calling in life. Katie was an amazing advocate for all kids, standing up for what was best for them. 

Katie is survived by her husband Brian, son Graham, daughters Harper and Millie; parents Greg and Julie of rural Wilcox; Brian’s parents, Mike and Vicki Sisson of Holdrege; sisters Emily (Derek) Gardels of Elkhorn and their children, Isaac, Madelyn, Easton, and Juliana, Abby (James) Lowe of Kearney and daughter Hazel; brother, Ben and (significant other Deanna)of Kearney; sister in-law Andrea Norris and fiancée John Harris of Holdrege and her children Gavin and Addisyn; brother in-law Jeff Sisson and (significant other Erin) of Holdrege and his children Crew and Koda. And numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.