Kathleen Marie Douglass

Kathleen (Kathy or Kate) Marie Douglass, 68, passed away at the Holmes Lake Rehabilitation Care Center in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 21, 2025. She was born on March 1, 1957 to James W. and Darleen A. (Michaelsen) Douglass at St. Mary’s Hospital in Columbus, Nebraska.

Kathleen grew up in Columbus, NE, attending elementary, junior and senior high school there as well as participating in many activities and clubs. Her mother, Darleen, was a Scout Leader and as a child, Kathleen enjoyed being a Brownie and a Girl Scout, and earned many badges. She had a lovely singing voice and took voice lessons for several years from Mrs. Juanita Meschke. Her Senior year at CHS, she sang in the Concert Choir, the Swing Choir and was a Matie in the Sports Booster Club. Following graduation from Columbus Senior High School in 1975, Kathleen was awarded an art scholarship from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. While attending college, Kathleen was a member of the Doane Choir, Doane Players, and Phi Sigma Tau Sorority. She earned bachelor degrees in both Art and English from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.

Kathleen was a beautiful, charismatic, and ebullient personality from the moment she was born. She had many friends everywhere she lived, throughout her life. Kathleen had a creative, energetic and artistic soul. She was a lifelong student of various artistic mediums, including ceramics, and was known for her beautiful paintings. She had a talent for creating superb naturalistic portraits of birds, dogs, and people. She had a particular gift for painting the beautiful contours of human faces. In her younger years, Kathleen also shared her love of art and painting with students in Texas and Nebraska as a talented and enthusiastic teacher. In addition to the visual arts, Kathleen had great admiration for literature and surrounded herself with classics from the nineteenth century as well as contemporary works on history and culture.

A fascination with various East Asian countries led Kathleen to collect and display porcelain figurines and other items reflecting the beauty and culture she admired. She had an affinity for fine porcelain bird figurines and miniatures. She loved seeing the beauty in things and surrounded herself with beautiful items, fabrics, and decor.

She enjoyed embroidering, crocheting and sewing and created many exceptional garments. Her crowning sartorial achievement was a jean jacket that was meticulously embroidered with all of the characters of the Wizard of Oz following the yellow brick road toward the Emerald City. Her fashion sense rivaled the haute couture of famous designers. Kathleen did not wait for special events to wear beautiful clothing, fancy shoes, hats, and coats. She lived for today.

For much of her adult life, Kathleen resided in Lincoln, Nebraska and for the last many years, with her partner, Dennis Jay Siegrist, a retired Lincoln police officer, and their beloved Yorkshire Terriers.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, James W. and Darleen A. Douglass, nephew, Luke Douglass McNeil, and brother-in-law, James McNeil.

She is survived by her siblings Margaret “Muffie” Douglass Shaw (John) of Thermopolis, WY, Anne Douglass McNeil of Eagle, CO, and Jim Douglass (Rita) of Columbus, NE; nieces and nephews: Shayna Wyasket (Jason) of Salt Lake City, UT, Lauren Douglass McNeil of Denver, CO, Matthew Douglass (Christine) of Seward, NE, Parker Douglass of Ashland, NE, and Ashley Newell (Jim) of Amsterdam, Netherlands; and several great nephews and great nieces.

A private interment will be held at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Columbus, Nebraska this summer. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.