Kathleen Tueller

Katie returned home to heaven on June 3, 2023. She was surrounded by her family and went peacefully after contracting a heart infection. Our family is grateful for the amazing care she received at the University of Utah Hospital and Davis Hospital.
Katie was born on May 11, 1942 in Twin Falls Idaho to William and Maureen Rappleye. She was the oldest of 5 siblings. After her father returned home from the war, she spent much time with him camping, fishing and scouting in the wilds of Idaho. She grew up with a strong work ethic and a love for the land that stayed with her for her lifetime.
Katie served an LDS mission in Paris, France during the tumultuous 1960’s and the experience solidified her unconditional acceptance of all people. While in France she gained a love for the arts, culture, fashion and French cuisine. After her mission, she finished her Bachelors Degree in Music at BYU. Katie spent her life teaching music and inspiring others to love music as well. She taught classical piano and violin, along with bluegrass fiddle, guitar and banjo. She taught high school band and orchestra and had an excellent understanding of all symphonic instruments. She could play the Orange Blossom Special on the fiddle like no other and she played it to standing ovations with the Utah Old Time Fiddlers.
She married Richard Alan Tueller on July 3, 1978, becoming a wife and mother. She always felt that Nathan and Annie were her kids. She enthusiastically sewed 5 yr old Annie an entire closet of clothes the first month they met. She was devastated at the loss of two biological babies in the early 1980’s. Katie and Alan adopted two more children at the time of their births: Becky and Matt. Her children feel she was the greatest cheerleader and led us to believe we could do anything we set our minds to.
Katie was a friend to all. She welcomed diversity into her life before it was the popular thing to do. At 81 years old she was still teaching a handful of music students including her grandchildren. She came to many events to support her grandchildren and loved the time she was able to spend with each of them. Our hearts are broken now that she is gone, but we know she is watching down on us and continues to cheer us on.
Katie is preceded in death by her parents William and Maureen, her sister Marilyn Jansen, her two children Christian and Esther and the love of her life Richard Alan. She leaves behind her siblings Connie (Rod) Bean, Bill (Mary) Rappleye, and Dean (Karen) Rappleye; her children Nathan (Wendy) Tueller, Annie (Tim) Payne, Becky (Travis) Lund, Matthew Tueller, and 9 amazing grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at the Elysian Gardens, 1075 East 4580 South, Millcreek, UT. A celebration of life will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Ward, 380 South Fairfield Road, Layton, UT.