Katherine "Kathie" Burke Graziano

Katherine “Kathie” Burke Graziano, 84, of Baldwin City, KS died Wednesday, October 1, 2025 in Lawrence, Kansas at the Neuvant House Assisted Living Facility.

Kathie was born June 28, 1941 in Fresno, California to Edward Emmett Burke and Gladys Emma (Highman) Burke. Kathie graduated from Fresno High School in 1959 and went on to earn a degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley. She then attended George Washington University where she obtained a teaching certificate. Kathie taught 4th and 5th grades in Arlington, VA, Camarillo, CA, and Lawrence, KS until she retired in 1966 to become a homemaker and mother.

Kathie was united in marriage to William Graziano on December 2, 1961 in Fresno, California. Kathie and William gave their lives to Jesus at the First Baptist Church in Camarillo, CA in 1964. They shared over 63 loving years together. 

In 1966, they moved to Baldwin City, Kansas, where Kathie was a den mother, a Youth For Christ Leader, and appeared in the first ever production of The Ballad of Black Jack. She was an accomplished watercolorist and also wrote several books, most notably Baker Lands: The Struggle to Start a School and a Town on the Santa Fe Trail. 

Kathie loved hiking in the mountains, drawing and painting in her sketchbooks, making quilts, finding fairy streams, stomping on footbridges to scare off trolls, tea parties, second breakfast, being with her beloved grandchildren, Fantasia, dancing to Help Me Rhonda, antique stores, potato chips, Jackie Chan (but not Tom Cruise), O Brother Where Art Thou, The Nutcracker, Mozart, still lifes, Gerard Manley Hopkins, the California foothills in the springtime, Handel’s Messiah, and The ‘Burbs. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward Burke and Gladys Burke; a brother, Tom Burke; and a sister, Caroline Burke.

She is survived by her husband, William Graziano of Baldwin City, KS; a sister, Karen Cohen and husband Chuck of Tsur Hadassah, Israel; a son, William Graziano III of Kansas City, MO; a daughter, Linda Niehoff and husband Kenny of Baldwin City, KS; a son, Scott Edwards of Kansas City, MO; a granddaughter, Emma Niehoff of Baldwin City, KS; a grandson, Josiah Niehoff of Baldwin City, KS; two nephews, Michael Cohen and wife Bethany and Jed Cohen; and three great nieces. 

She will be missed every single day. 

Private graveside services will be held in Baldwin City, KS. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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