Kathie Irene Meixelberger, 76, of Niles, Ohio, passed away on October 31, 2026 at Austinwoods after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was surrounded by the love of her family.

Kathie was born on January 18, 1950, in Ford City, Pennsylvania, to Richard and Marian Altman Yates. She grew up there with her two brothers.

Kathie was a pretty, popular young woman who had no shortage of admirers. In fact, when Bruce first came to her house to ask her out, two other young men were already there hoping to do the same. Fortunately for Bruce, Kathie chose him. It was the beginning of a lifetime together.

They married in March of 1968 and Kathie proudly stood by Bruce during his four years of service in the Navy. They raised their family in Mecca, Ohio, before moving to Niles to be closer to their grandchildren. They built a happy life together, finding joy in the simple things. Some of their favorite times were spent taking long Sunday drives, with no particular place they needed to be. Along the way, Bruce would serenade her with his own made-up “Oh, Kathie” song, sung in his wonderfully terrible voice just to make her laugh. Sometimes those drives took them back to Ford City for their favorite hoagies. Returning to her hometown always brought back memories of growing up there, and Kathie loved sharing those childhood stories with her family.

Kathie was the kind of person who could talk to anyone. She never met a stranger, and a quick hello could easily turn into a long conversation. She loved telling stories, catching up with people, and sharing whatever her children and grandchildren were up to. She was always so proud of her family. She also enjoyed reading, coloring, working on puzzles, and spending time in her garden.

Kathie also treasured the time she spent with her son, Chad. The two loved watching movies together, and even as Alzheimer’s changed their time together, Chad kept that tradition going, putting on movies during his visits in nursing care so they could still share those familiar moments. She also loved when he invited her out to watch the Buckeyes, an invitation she never wanted to turn down. Whether they were enjoying a movie or cheering on Ohio State, those times together were always special to her.

Kathie almost always had a book in her hand, and she passed her love of reading on to her daughter, Tracie. One of Tracie’s favorite childhood memories is going to the bookstore with her mom, where they would pick out bags and bags of books together. That love of reading stayed with Tracie and remains one of the things that will always remind her of her mom. As she grew older, Kathie was the person she called about everything, whether it was a recipe, advice about her plants, or just something going on with the girls. Those simple conversations were what Tracie missed most as Alzheimer’s progressed.

But more than anything, Kathie loved being Gram.

Her three granddaughters, Jane, Natalie, and Jillian, were the center of her world. When they were little, she cared for them every day while their parents worked. Those years gave them a special closeness that continued as the girls grew older. She was there for it all, joining them on every school field trip and rarely missing a school event. Whether it was a shopping trip, a sleepover, or making their favorite dinner, Kathie found so much joy in the little things that made her girls happy. Nothing made her happier than making them happy. The girls will always treasure the memories they made with Gram, but even more than that, they’ll carry with them the feeling of being loved so completely by her.

Kathie gave her family so much of herself, especially her time, her attention, and her love. As Alzheimer’s slowly took away so many of the things that made her who she was, the love her family had for her never changed. Bruce visited her every single day, coming to feed her breakfast and spending each morning by her side. It was a quiet, beautiful continuation of the life they had shared together. She will be remembered for her stories, her friendly nature, her devotion to Bruce, and most of all, the wonderful Gram she was to her girls.

Kathie is survived by her husband, Bruce; her children, Chad and Tracie (James) Parry; her grandchildren, Jane, Natalie, and Jillian; and her brothers, Clyde (Lee) Altman and Bob (Linda) Altman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Marian Altman.

Services will be held privately.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Austinwoods, especially Kathie’s nurse, Jenna, for the exceptional care and kindness shown to Kathie, and for the warmth and compassion they extended to Bruce throughout his daily visits.

Arrangements handled by The Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles.

To share a memory, send a condolence, or view sympathy flowers and gifts, please visit Kathie’s tribute page at www.josephrossifuneralhome.com.