Kori Bigge, 49, Stockton, Kansas, was born August 2, 1975, in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Tim and Marlyn Karstetter. Kori passed away October 16, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri after a brief illness.
She grew up in McPherson, Kansas and graduated from McPherson High School in 1993. Kori attended Pittsburg State University and graduated with a minor in psychology in 1997 and a master’s degree in psychology in 1999. After graduation Kori moved to Hays, Kansas to work for the High Plains Mental Health Center. She also worked for Westside Alternative School. While she was in court representing children from Westside School, she met her future husband, Doug Bigge. They were married June 14, 2003, in McPherson. To this union two children were born, Kourtney Danica and Dena Kail.
In 2008, after the death of Dena, Kori suffered a massive heart attack which eventually led to a heart transplant at the University of Utah Hospital in 2013. Although suffering from three strokes between 2008 and 2013, Kori still lived her life. Kori was no longer able to work, but she was able to navigate around Plainville and Stockton in her trusty golf cart, often seen with her companion dogs as passengers. Kori truly made lemonade out of lemons. She enjoyed her women's groups and took up sewing and quilting. She took her quilts to the Rooks County Free Fair. Kori enjoyed watching Kourtney grow up and show her different animals at the fair. Also, Kori began listening to audio books. In 2023 she listened to an average of one and a half books a day. Kori and her family are eternally grateful to the University of Utah Heart Transplant team for giving Kori another 16 years of life.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Dena Bigge and father-in-law Tom Bigge. Kori is survived by her husband Doug Bigge; daughter Kourtney Bigge; parents Tim and Marlyn Karstetter; sisters Kim Woyski (Ryan) and Kristi Hatfield (Tad); brother Matt Karstetter; mother-in-law Ruth Ann Bigge; sisters-in -law Beth Pfeifer (Jason) and Holly Beaton (Aaron); brother-in-law Stephen Bigge (Melissa) and nephews and nieces Caden Pfeifer, Kalli Windholz, Teagen Pfeifer, Kiaya Hatfield, Kyler Hatfield, Deklen Woyski, Kolton Woyski, Landry Beaton, Drylan Beaton and Kyan Bigge. Kori also had three fur babies at home that dearly miss her: Kody, Kit Kat and Ruger.
A Memorial Service and Celebration of Kori's life will be held at 1:30 pm, Saturday, November 30, 2024, at the Stockton Church of Restoration, 204 N. Elm, Stockton, Kansas. A luncheon will be held prior to the service at noon at the church. Memorials are suggested to: University of Utah Heart Transplant program, St. Luke's Cardiovascular ICU program, Rooks County 4-H Dog Program or the Women Who Lead for Matthew's Gift Bags. Memorials may be sent to Doug Bigge, 325 Gracie St, Stockton, KS 67669 or to the Farmers National Bank, PO Box 522, Stockton, KS 67669. Arrangements by Stinemetz Funeral Home, Hill City - condolences for the family may be left at www.stinemetzfh.com