Roll Call Tribute

Katherine Marguerite "Kathy" (Kraemer) Short 

April 2, 1967 - December 5, 2023 

Kathy '89 was born on April 2, 1967, in Heidelberg, Germany and was the only daughter of Werner and Judith Ann (Lee) Kraemer. She and her beloved daughter, Lauren Christina Short '16, were taken from their family and friends on December 5, 2023, at their home in Austin, Texas.

In 1973, Kathy began kindergarten at Shawanoe Elementary School in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. She also attended Deer Park Elementary in Deer Park, Texas, and graduated from Burnett Elementary School in Houston, Texas in 1978. She attended Thompson Intermediate School in Houston and then Webster Intermediate in Webster. She graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas in 1985. She accepted a scholarship to Texas A&M University and was a proud Aggie. She received a B.S. degree in Radiological Health Engineering in 1989, and pursued a master’s degree in Radiological Health Engineering. 

While attending Texas A&M, she met Jeffery Eugene Short '89. They fell in love and were married on May 26, 1990, at Fairview Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. They had two children, Lauren Christina Short '16, and Michael Jeffery Short who was stillborn on January 18, 2001.

Kathy was a two-time cancer survivor. During her college years, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Just a few years later, she defeated breast cancer. She did not dwell on her illnesses. Instead, she was prompted to volunteer at the American Cancer Society as well as The Make-A-Wish Foundation for several years. For her dedicated service, she received the Outstanding Mission Support Award from Make-A-Wish of Central and South Texas.

Kathy started her first job at Pharmaco in Austin, Texas doing clinical research. She paused her career when she took on the role of being a mother. She later returned to clinical research at Research Point Global in Austin, Texas where she worked until resigning her position in order to dedicate herself to supporting Lauren, who struggled with many health issues.

Kathy’s greatest joy was her family. Kathy’s compassionate nature aided her in caring for Lauren. As a result, they developed an especially close bond. They spent more time together than many mothers and daughters, and it is comforting to know they were together during their last moments on earth.

Kathy excelled at everything she did, and was a meticulous family history researcher, carefully verifying the information she found. She spent hours not only doing her own research, but she also indexed records so others could find their ancestors. She also enjoyed scrapbooking, crafting, and Bunco.

Kathy was so much fun! From her teen years on, she loved to plan parties and other activities with friends and family. She was an avid music fan and enjoyed going to musicals and concerts. She especially enjoyed getting to go backstage to meet the band or musical group members. She was very funny, and everyone who knew her enjoyed her quick wit and gift of puns. She enjoyed going to the O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships in Austin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant son; and her stepmother, Hildegard Hellbruck Kraemer; her maternal grandparents, Ray Lee and Marguerite Brecklin Lee; step grandmother, Christine Korkmas Lee; and paternal grandparents, Alfred and Elise Schmid Kraemer.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband, Jeff, of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by a half-brother, Harold Seigfried Kraemer, of Germany.

Additionally, she is survived by her in-laws, Eugene and Elizabeth Nolting Short of Frisco, Texas; her brother-in-law, Steven Short '95 and his wife, Vicki Linville Short, of Mansfield, Texas; niece and nephew, Lauren and Jackson Linville, as well as several cousins, many friends, and co-workers.

In honor of Kathy, memorials may be given to: World Central Kitchen at https://www.wck.org