I don’t know that any of us at KOMO can even begin to express how much you have meant to us in the last several days. Kathi’s death struck us to our core. Our hearts have been breaking.
Brave, strong and courageous. Kathi Goertzen was all that and more in her fight against brain tumors.
Today a piece of the fabric of my life is gone. Even though I’m putting this in words they can in no way come close to expressing the depth of the loss of one of my best friends, Kathi Goertzen.
It was the summer of 1987 and little did I know when I came to KOMO Television that I would be meeting one of the most important people in my life - a woman I would admire on the news set and off. A true professional and a role model for me - everyone else in the newsroom - and the entire Western Washington community.
If you didn't know better, you'd say she was the luckiest person you ever met. She was born into a wonderful family. She was so pretty, so talented, so proud to be a mother to Alexa and Andrea, so in love with her husband Rick.
Our co-worker, our angel, our precious friend, Kathi Goertzen, died today, surrounded by her loving family. The long fight against the tumors that have ravaged her brain is over. She is at peace now, comfortable and surrounded by all that is good.
It is often said you can judge a person's character by how they treat children and younger adults. By that measure, Kathi Goertzen was the best of them.
WSU Professor Glenn Johnson remembered Kathi's positive outlook on life and said she was a fighter right to the end.
Alexa you are amazing as is your mom. Â Your voice is absolutely beautiful and you are so talented- follow that dream and don't let anyone EVER tell you not to. Â Wow- your voice made me cry so hard and your mom's kindness and love for everyone was so sweet. Â I actually had the gift of going in the elevator with your mom and you 2 girls at Pacific Place about 5 years ago and you were all laughing and talking. Â I didn't say anything at the time, but my memory is just pure love and happiness. Â You guys were kidding each other about something and I remember looking at your mom and thinking how beautiful and happy you all are. Â Loves to you all, and never ever give up your singing.
Sonja
sonjapetersen2002@yahoo.com
Wow! What an amazing voice you have! Beautiful tribute to your amazing mom.
Hello Alexa, You were just a little girl when I first met you, and you we already singing through the house. i told you Mom then that you were going to be a star. And you very much are. What a tribute you girls are to all that is good. When your cd comes out, i'll be standing in line. Stay strong.
@hborg Yes,the cd ,I will be waiting for it also. It was just beautiful. Kathi was so Proud of her daughters and family. We will surely miss such a Special person on Komo. Thankyou Kathi And Komo for all the interesting news brought to all of us
What a celebration we will have Sunday as we honor and pay tribute to Kathi Goertzen!Kathi made a huge impact on the world.Her courage as she faced her ongoing treatments and surgeries for her brain tumors is inspiring!As a musician,I am particularly touched by the song by Alexa.Thank you,Alexa and family for honoring Kathi through song.
This was so wonderful to listen to! I think a memorial CD is in order with proceeds going to Kathi's foundation. I would buy a CD of music sung by Alexa any day. What a wonderful tribute to an amazing woman.
@Janet D. After listening to her beautiful voice again, I was thinking the same thing.
What a great voice you have. Your mother did a wonderful job raising you girls. I too lost my mom young. It is terrible and I dont wish it on anyone, but the love she has given you both will lift you up more than you now. I promise. You will have so much love that will help you through each day will show you the way. Hold on to your family right now. I know its hard just keep each other close. Take care and god bless you.
Beautiful! The song. The singer. The subject. Enough said!
@ what a great tribute to your mom! Alexa you have a beautiful voice and I am sure all the angels in heaven are singing that song! Your mom was a roll model to millions. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
What a beautiful voice Alexa, and what a beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman. I know your mom is hearing you sing and is with you always.
Alexa, Your beautiful voice will be heard all the way to heaven. Â It shows your strength and love for your mother. Kathi and Rick raised you well, and it shows. God bless you during this sad time in your life.
What a beautiful tribute to your mom Alexa. I haven't known your mom long, I moved here 3 yrs. ago, but my daughter has told me so much about her and I started following her battle with the tumors. I could not believe the strength, courage your mother had, I really admired her for that, most of all her faith, if we don't have that then we have nothing. I prayed for her everyday and I knew God was not done with her yet here on this earth, we may never know her purpose here, but I do know she completed it before she walked away with Jesus. Blessings to you and your family, may God give you the strength and courage to go on.
This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Such a lovely young lady, voice, and daughter. No doubt Kathi's spirit will live on through her daughters.
I remember Kathi's first day on KOMO News next to Dan Lewis. I have never shed a tear for someone I have never met...yet I cried for Kathi as though I had known her for years and I had, just by watching her for thirty plus years. To see that awful tumor distroy her beautiful face was heart wrenching...but it did not distroy her beautiful heart and her love for others and life itself. My heart goes out to her daughters, husband, sisters and parents along with all her close friends at KOMO News. Seattle has lost it's living angel...but she will be within all of us who were touched by her as long as we walk this earth. Rest In Peace Kathi. Many thanks for all you've done for so many here in the Northwest and around the globe.Â
@Jim M I could not have said this better. Very well said Jim, thank you. My sentiments as well. Beautiful inspiring woman, love and prayers to her family. I shed many tears over this loss and Kathy will always be one of my hero's.
It's so apparent  Kathi lived every day grateful for that day and instilling her ongoing love and constancy in her husband and daughters. What a blessing she has given and left them with. I know there are many times of feeling her loss ahead and many times of realizing anew how much she remains with you and within each of you. I wish you all God's peace in your hearts as she was so proud to have you all in her life as her family. It's plain she cherished each of you greatly. May we all live with such awareness of the good life we have. Alexa that song was absolutely beautiful just like you. The words you each shared about your wife and mom at the memorial tell the story of the love in your home. She would want that love to guide you all in the days ahead.
Alexa you were such a gift in your mother's life and she was so proud of you. What a beautiful way to remember her on this day. We will miss her always
I see Kathi lived every day grateful for that day and instilling her ongoing love and constancy in her husband and daughters. What a blessing she has given and left them with. I know there are many times of feeling her loss ahead and many times of realizing anew how much she remains with you and within each of you. I wish you all God's peace in your hearts as she was so proud to have you all in her life as her family. It's plain she cherished each of you greatly. May we all live with such awareness of the good life we have.
What a beautiful voice. I heard it last night when they aired the special and I couldn't get the voice out of my head, so I had to hear it again today. I would love to hear Alexa sing "You Raise Me Up".  Great job!
My heart is heavy. Absolutely beautiful.Â
Beautiful, just beautiful.
An amazing voice and tribute! Simply beautiful!Â
Amazing voice and what a wonderful tribute to your mom. God bless you and your family.
For the past twenty-four hours, I've been dry-eyed. This video started the tears flowing. The anchor chair, key lighted. Vacant. The set dark. A single, simple graphic in the background. Says it all. Thank you, KOMO, and thank you Kathi.
Truly and amazing woman who fought a hard fight with grace and dignity, just a she did at all times....she will be missed. God bless her family..
What a voice, Alexa! I could listen to you all day long. Your mom told me you wanted to sing opera but I love that soul sound! God Bless You, sweetie, and your beautiful sister. I'm one of your mom's AXO sisters and although I only saw her at reunions and YWCA functions, knew how much joy you and Andrea brought to her life. I know that the two of you and the rest of the family will carry on her work in honoring her amazing life. Love to you all.
Simply Amazing!
Absolutely stunning.Â
What a simply wonderful tribute to Kathi and her daughter's singing is so beautiful, very moving !
An amazing voice Thank-you for sharing....a wonderful tribute to your mom a great LADY who will be sadly missed by ALL l!!!!!
Amazing singing to an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing Kathi with us all of these years
What a wonderful & amazing tribute to her mom! No wonder Kathi was so proud of her daughter's voice.
Dear Goertzen Family and KOMO Team, I thank you so much for sharing this beautiful tribute to a remarkable women. As many have expressed we Northwesterners were so fortunate to grow up with Kathi taking us through major news events. She has been in our prayers with her challenges and we continue to pray for all of you. A pastor shared with me that with life we all travel down a path - after different distances some go around a bend and we no longer can see them. But eventually we all will go around this bend in the road and we'll have a wonderful reunion. Last nights tributes were so wonderful and a welcomed moment to honor Kathi and everyone who shared her journey. God Bless and see you through these times.
This is beautiful and brought tears to my eyes. Although Kathi is gone. she left behind two precious treasures, Alexa and Andrea, who will no doubt become the same successful, kind caring, passionate young women their mother was. My heart and prayers are with them and their father as they navigate through this most difficult of times. May God bless you and your family.
Thank you! She would be so proud
Thank you so much for sharing this video...what an amazing voice & song...so fitting for Kathi. Kathi wasn't kidding when she told us of Alexa's voice. :)
What an amazing voice. Kathi mentioned her beautiful daughters so many times on facebook and I can see why. Absolutely beautiful song and such fitting words to remember Kathi by. Thank you so much for sharing.Â
Oh I'm sure Kathi would've loved that! I sure hope her family as well as everyone at KOMO go thru the night alright.
Wow! What a tribute and what a great voice this young woman has! Her mother's daughter...
Â
Such a beautiful girl with an amazing voice..Kathy had alot to be so proud of...I am so sorry you have lsot your mom..I lost mine in 98 and still my heart twinges when i think of her and how much i miss her...Make her proud.She was an amazing woman.
Â
Thank you so so very much for sharing with us.Â
Amazing, heart breaking, beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Amen