Kathleen Marie Bandhauer, also known as “KM” by her family, Age 57 of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away on June 6, 2022. Kathi was born October 7, 1964 in Des Moines, Iowa to Terri and Adrien Schmidt. She is the youngest of 8 children: Irene, Marie, Peggy, Mark, Gerry, John, and Suzi. Kathi’s family has a tradition of rooting for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, for they lived much of their childhood in Omaha. Even though Kathi was the youngest sibling, she had a great impact on her family. In one of Mark’s cards to KM, he wrote, “I bet that your fellow cancer patients see you in the doctor’s office and you bring joy to them… I bet the nurses, the doctors, the receptionists, and the technicians go home to their families at the end of the day and tell their families that in similar circumstance, they wish they were like you.” Kathi and her mother moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in August of 1980. Both Terri and Kathi worked for the Commonwealth Theaters. Thanks to Drew Furney, Kathi met her future husband working together behind the concession counter selling popcorn.
Kathi Married Brent Bandhauer in September of 1986 while they were still in college. The whole marriage felt like a perpetual honeymoon. Friends and colleagues frequently commented that she and Brent were so in love. Even after three decades of marriage, they still looked at each other like infatuated teenagers. They spent 5 summers together working as camp counselors at the Quarter Circle V Bar Ranch Camp in central Arizona in the late 1980’s. They moved to Las Vegas in the summer of 1990 to start teaching careers. Kathi retired after thirty-two years as an awesome educator & leader as Becker Middle School’s Learning Strategist.
Kathi and Brent raised two sons, Parker and Drew. Parker of Las Vegas, age 27, is working as a data conversion specialist for optometrists. Drew is working as an energy storage engineer for Savion and currently lives in Denver, Colorado. Parker and Drew (along with informally adopted children Daniel Paez Martin and Ivanna Czak) have always meant so much to Kathi. Life was always right where it should be when family shared the dinner table eating or assembling puzzles.
Kathi quickly became recognized as an outstanding 5th grade teacher before moving into the world of middle school. After teaching at Johnson Junior High School, Kathi moved to Becker Middle in the fall of 2001. She eventually piloted the 8th grade early bird writing academy class where she nurtured higher level writing skills in many, many students. Las Vegas honors outstanding teachers each year with the Heart of Education award. Kathi was nominated and selected as a finalist five years in a row before her retirement.
Students loved being in Kathi’s classroom. Madeline, a former student writes, “When I was in your class, I was super shy and afraid to speak. When you had us do the mock trial for Lord of the Flies, you helped me get more comfortable about speaking in front the class. The mock trial also helped with my dislike of leading groups. You are one of the people who inspired me to go to a Career and Technical Academy and to join Teacher Education. Thank you for making a difference.”
Nicole writes, “Mrs. Bandhauer by far is one of the most amazing teachers I have ever met. As soon as I walk into her classroom, I feel surrounded by an aura of kindness and warmth… She has been so kind to me and my peers, such as when I was sick, she would show deep concern and try to help by giving me water and such.”
Maddie C. writes, “I don’t even know where to start. You are the best teacher I have ever had. It sounds cheesy, but it is so true… I also wanted to say thank you for caring about me so much. I had some hard times this year, but you were there for me. You are hilarious, and even if I was having a bad morning, you made me laugh and I started my day on a positive note.”
Hanna writes, “Her class is challenging but also very enjoyable and I haven’t heard of anyone that dislikes her which is very hard to find in a teacher.”
Vennethe writes, “Mrs. Bandhauer loves her students as if they were one of her own… Additionally, Mrs. Bandhauer is quirky, transforming us into moose, and silencing us by simply standing up with our head in the classroom’s atmosphere.”
Kayley writes, “Mrs. Bandhauer is the best teacher a student could ever ask for. She is passionate about her job and helps spread positive energy. I wake every morning knowing that the day would be a good one because I get to start it off in her class.”
Delaney writes, “if you ask the eight-graders at BMS who their favorite teacher is, almost everyone says Mrs. Bandhauer. Since day one she has been the best teacher I have ever had. She not only has a very engaging and light-hearted teaching style, but she also truly cares about her students… My entire class loves her, and we all know that she has already made an enormous impact on our lives.”
Victoria writes, “She consistently encourages a love of learning in the classroom and teaches her students the importance of kindness, honesty, and effort… Mrs. Bandhauer makes an extraordinary impact on Becker Middle School and is the reason why many students are excited to continue their education and take pride in their work.”
Elaine writes, “Words cannot describe how great she is. Everyday in her class is a completely new experience and I appreciate all the time she spends preparing lessons and making sure that her students learn something new. Overall Mrs. Bandhauer is an incredible teacher and human being.”
Siera writes, “Mrs. Bandhauer is an incredible teacher, and she is an inspiration to me. She has helped me hone in my writing skills, and has allowed me to be creative in my own way.”
Riley writes directly to Kathi, “I enjoy every moment in your class and I feel honored to have a teacher as amazing as you… I also wanted you to know that your voices for “To Kill a Mockingbird” are wonderful as well and you help us understand more deeply what the story means and symbolizes.”
In nominating Kathi for the Heart of Education Award, Mrs. Ayala (one of the school’s administrators) writes, “Mrs. Bandhauer is in her 28th year of teaching, but still continues to improve her teaching practice. When you tell Mrs. Bandhauer she excels in the classroom and that she is an amazing teacher, she lets you know that she still has so much to learn as an educator. This year, she decided to try new methods that she taught the staff through professional development to increase reading stamina. Every year she continues to amaze me with how she increases student achievement and engagement of Becker Middle School students. She has a true passion for teaching.”
Kathi had incredible physical and emotional strength even with the diagnosis of stage four ovarian cancer last July. She fought so hard for so long. It is hoped by Brent that she fought with endless determination because she didn’t want to leave a life that was so full of love and happiness. She didn’t want to disappoint the people she loved as a teacher, as a colleague, as a friend, as a mother, and as a wife.
Here are the finalized plans for KM’s Celebration of Life Reception and funeral:
Tuesday, June 14th 1:00 to 3:00. Celebration of Life Reception at Palm Cheyenne Mortuary
7400 West Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas.
3:00 – 5:00 Gathering at the Bandhauer house for those interested. 501 Port Hope Place
Wednesday, June 15th at noon. Memorial Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive, Las Vegas.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition https://ovarian.org/ or call (888)682-7426.
Kathi will be cremated with her ashes being inurned at Palm Northwest Cemetery. She will be in the Santo Nino Garden columbarium Side D (facing West) on the left-hand side, fourth row from the bottom. Her ashes will likely be placed at that site in early October.
A HEALING PRAYER TO ST. JUDE
Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, friend of Jesus, I place myself in your care at this difficult time. Pray for me; help me know that I need not face my troubles alone. Please join me in my need, asking God to send me consolation in my sorrow, courage in my fear, and healing in the midst of my suffering. Ask our loving God to fill me with the grace to accept whatever, may lie ahead for me and my loved ones, and to strengthen my faith in God's healing power. Thank you, St. Jude, for the promise of hope you hold out to all who believe, and inspire me to give this gift of hope to others as it has been given to me.
Amen.
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