Katie Koslucher

Katherine Lee (Salsbery) Koslucher fought her own mental illness bravely throughout her thirty-six years of life. She chose to end her lifelong struggle on April 1, 2022 and is now at peace.

Katie loved fiercely, cared deeply, and spoke passionately about the people, animals and things that were important to her. Born in Mankato, Minnesota to Tom and Cindy (Nothwehr) Salsbery, Katie was the youngest of three children. With tight chocolate brown curls and big brown eyes, Katie was drawn to animals at an early age. During her life, Katie saved and cared for countless fish, hamsters, crayfish, birds, frogs, snails, and rescue cats and dogs. She longed to be a veterinarian, but her big heart couldn’t bear the thought of seeing so many animals in pain.

Katie attended Mankato West High School, Minnesota State University-Mankato and ultimately received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2013. A retail pharmacist in Duluth, MN and Superior, Wisconsin, Katie relished the opportunity to help people get life-saving medications but spoke often about the stress COVID-19 placed on healthcare workers like herself and her coworkers she lovingly referred to as her “pharmily”.

In 2015, Katie married Steven Koslucher and became a bonus mom to Tyler. Katie and Steve enjoyed long hikes with their three large dogs, motorcycle rides around Lake Superior, international travel, great American dive bars with friends, and music festivals.

Katie loved being an aunt and delighted in surprising her niece and nephews with the kind of gifts that small children love but their parents hate. Aunt Katie was known for her unrivaled ability to play pretend and for her outsized love of candy. Licorice was a mainstay of her diet from the time she grew teeth and always available to an inquiring niece or nephew.

Her love of Christmas was unparalleled and ensured the holiday was always special for her entire family. Always up for a good laugh, she was known to keep a rapping Christmas llama figurine at work for the enjoyment of her pharmily and a very ugly and out of tune set of wooden Christmas carolers at home to annoy her older sister.

Katie is survived by her husband, Steve, as well as her parents, Tom and Cindy Salsbery and parents-in-law, Helen and John Koslucher. She is also survived by her sister, Meredith (Nick) Vadis, brother, Mitchell (Erin) Salsbery, as well as her niece, Caroline and nephews, Elliott, Reed, and Ethan. Her beloved crew of dogs - Juno, Coda and Paul – continue to patiently wait by the window for her return.  She will be missed by her ten cousins and nine living aunts and uncles as well as her close friends and pharmily. She was preceded in death by her numerous furbabies and by her grandparents, brother-in-law, John Koslucher, and Aunt Marnee Nothwehr.

A private family service and burial will be held in Mankato. Donations in memory of Katie can be sent to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or a local pet shelter.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Duluth. Northview – North Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.