Kathleen S Niksic

A celebration of Kathy’s life will be held from 11 a.m – 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 in the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center in Shelbyville, Ill. Relatives and friends are invited to wear casual attire (pink or flamingo print is required) and encouraged to bring a story to share about Kathy. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, Ill. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the Great Pyrenees Rescue of Central Illinois (www.gprci.com) or to the women’s shelter Dove, Inc. (doveinc.org).

Kathy was born on June 28, 1948 in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of John F. “Jack” and Agnes (Grzybowski) Krynicki. She graduated from Saints Peter and Paul High School, Chicago, Ill., in the Class of 1966. Kathy married Thomas M. “Tom” Niksic on Nov. 24, 1967 in Chicago. She owned and operated Gwen-Jax Company, a screen printing company in Chicago, for 25 years. Kathy and Tom retired and moved to Shelbyville in 2000, where they owned and operated the Shelby County Shirt Company and Niks-Naks & Souvenirs in the downtown area for many years. While in Chicago, Kathy was president of Jane Addams Elementary School PTA. In Shelbyville, she served as the president of the Kaskia-Kaw River Conservancy (KKRC). Kathy was renowned for her cooking, which she often shared with the community, and enjoyed opening her home to family and friends.

Kathy is survived by her husband, Tom, of Shelbyville; daughters, Gwen Niksic (Lucian Babiarz) of Madison, Wis., and Jacqueline Ryan (Douglas) of Elk Grove Village, Ill; twin granddaughters, Jennifer and Madison; brother-in-law, Michael Niksic (Gail) of Chicago; nieces, Debbie Tobinski and Jill Krynicki; and nephews, Greg Tobinski, Robert Relinski, Jack Krynicki and Mike Krynicki.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Rich Krynicki and Ron Krynicki; sisters, Evelyn Tobinski, Geri Relinski and Pat Hnatt; niece, Cheryl Krynicki; and nephew, Tommy Krynicki.

Share your memories and condolences at www.howeandyockey.com