Catherine "Katie" L. Nienaber

Catherine “Katie” Leone Bottorff Nienaber, age 97 of Ft. Wright, KY, formerly of Jeffersonville, IN, passed away on May 16, 2025 at her home, surrounded by her doting family. She was preceded in death by her husband, John William Nienaber and her twin Great-Granddaughters, Mary Catherine and Elizabeth Anne Wright.

Katie was the loving mother of 7 children: Teresa Schuler (the late Dennis), Tony Nienaber, Maria Nienaber, Nanette (Eddie) Hensley, Marci (Tom) Gohs, Krista Nienaber, and Eric (Lauri) Nienaber. She also cherished her 11 grandchildren: Ashley (Chris) Wright, Erin (Kyle) Cozatchy, Adam (Amanda) Hensley, Anthony (Jasmine) Hensley, Lauren (Coty) Partin, Haley Hensley, Jessica Goodridge, Jacob Nienaber, Abigail Nienaber, Lucas Nienaber, and Andrew Nienaber, and her 13 great-grandchildren: Harvey Wright, Winnie Wright, Jude Wright, Chandler Cozatchy, Elliot Cozatchy, Maxwell Cozatchy, Arthur Hensley, Aubury Hensley, Adeline Hensley, Avery Hensley, Ezra Hensley, Isla Hensley, and Rowan Partin.

Katie was an extremely generous woman and always made sure everyone around her felt welcomed and accepted.

Her selflessness extended into her work life. Katie was a relentless advocate for the betterment of people’s lives. Her career as a Social Worker brought her to Northern Kentucky to help individuals dealing with everything from mental health issues, homelessness, aging, and drug addiction to physical disabilities, poverty and special needs.

Besides her work as the first Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of Northern Kentucky, Katie also served as the President of the League of Women Voters of Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties, Inc. She made regular trips to Kentucky’s Capitol in Frankfort to be the voice for the voiceless and vulnerable. She was a strong,determined woman who made positive contributions to her family, her community, her state, her country, and the world she leaves behind.

Katie was also a member of the Northern Kentucky Interfaith Commission. With a unity of different denominations and faiths, people came together with one goal: helping other people. Along with the Interfaith Commission, Katie’s interactions lived out the core values that are shared by all religions - values like compassion, respect, love, hope and peace, which are necessary for sustaining life in all communities.

Once Alzheimer’s started taking over Katie’s brilliant mind, she enjoyed the simpler things in life.

● Katie loved her daily glass of Coca Cola, a good meal, …. and chocolate.

● She laughed at old episodes of “I Love Lucy”

● She enjoyed sitting on her back deck in the warm sun and tending to her flowers, pulling off all the dead leaves so new leaves could take their place.

● She loved music and dancing. Even when she became confined to a wheelchair, she would chair-dance at every wedding she attended!

● But most of all, her face lit up when she received a visit from one of her kids, or grandkids or great-grandkids!

● Through all the years of dementia, she was “still Katie” and “still Mom”

As Katie worked tirelessly through her life fighting for others, she told her kids that she would do all she could to help other people…and that she would rest when she gets to heaven. Well, Katie, now it is time to rest. Rest in Peace, Katie Nienaber.

Katie’s children now picture their Mom dancing in heaven with Dad, now unrestricted by arthritis and wheelchairs and dementia.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 21st from 11-12pm at Middendorf Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 22nd at 11:30am at St Agnes Church in Ft. Wright. A gathering will take place following the Mass in the undercroft of St. Agnes. Middendorf Funeral Home in Ft. Wright, KY is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Katie’s memory to the Alzheimer's Association or BAWAC, Inc,. at BAWAC.org.