KATHLEEN ANN PINS TELGER

Kathy Telger, age 76, died on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was born on October 29, 1948, in Dyersville, Iowa the daughter of Albert and Esther Pins. Kathy grew up on a farm in Dyersville, the 2nd of six children. She cherished her relationships with her siblings and family all of her life. She attended Catholic schools, and in summers she worked on the assembly line at the Ertl Toy Factory, putting together toy tractors. After graduating St. Francis Xavier High School, class of 1966, she studied math and science at the University of Iowa, proud to be an Iowa Hawkeye.

Wanting to explore more of the country, she headed to Boston after college. In 1973, she moved to Monterey, CA, to see the west coast and join her sisters. She loved being near the ocean. There she met her husband, Terry, when they became chess partners. He proposed on the Monterey wharf, they married at the basilica in Dyersville, Iowa in 1975 and they settled in Marina, CA, for nine years. They had their only daughter, Katie, Thanksgiving Day 1981.

In 1984, they moved to Fort Worth, TX, Terry’s hometown, to be closer to a medical library for Terry’s work as a German medical translator. Wanting to start a new career in helping others, Kathy went back to school from 1987-1991 to earn her master’s degree in counseling from the University of North Texas. For 22 years, she worked helping grieving families at The WARM Place. She said that her work enabled her to do what she came to earth to do, help people through suffering. In retirement, she continued working as a grief counselor in private practice as well as volunteering with non-profits including Trauma Support Services and Healing After Suicide.

As a couple, Terry and Kathy were involved for many years in Catholic Marriage Encounter, and the TCU Catholic Book Club they began hosting more than 20 years ago. They were lifelong best friends and spiritual partners. Kathy helped Terry through several years of health issues relating to a kidney transplant. Having enjoyed a long and happy life together, they celebrated 49 years of marriage on August 23, 2024. Terry died on October 16, 2024. Kathy followed seven months later.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Terry, her brothers, Phil Pins and Tim Pins, and her brother-in-law, Lee Walters. Surviving is her daughter, Katie Soule, her son-in-law Charlie Soule, sisters Mary Esther Walters and Betty Flores and many nieces and nephews, in-laws, cousins, and beloved friends.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 5 from 5:00pm-7:00pm with a vigil service at 6:00pm at the Harper and Lucas Funeral Home, 1500 8th Avenue, Fort Worth. On Friday June 6, there will be a Catholic funeral mass at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 3317 Dryden Road, Fort Worth, at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, Kathy requested friends and family may make gifts in her memory to The WARM Place.