Theresa Lin Niemeyer

Theresa Lin Niemeyer was born October 19th, 1975, a day before her mother’s birthday, as a present to her parents Linda and Edward Niemeyer in Mountain View, CA. She was raised with her siblings until August 1981 when the entire family moved to Chandler, AZ. She graduated from Chandler High School with Honors in 1993 and attended Arizona State University receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in 2003 from the W.P. Carey School of Business. 

Theresa was predeceased by her brother, Glen Niemeyer, and her father, Edward Niemeyer. She is survived by her only child, Katherine Kasson, her son-in-law, Macy Kasson, her mother, Linda Niemeyer, her siblings, Cathy (Jim) Niemeyer-Root, Scott Niemeyer, Dianna (Keith) Miller, and Allen Niemeyer, her nieces and nephews, Cassia Niemeyer, Evan and John Niemeyer, Amy Miller, and several other people who considered her a mother. 

Theresa’s daughter, Katherine, was born on February 5th, 1999 in Burlington, VT. In 2000, they moved to Chandler, AZ to be closer to family living in Grandma Lucy’s old home. They were partners in crime and considered each other best friends. 

Theresa became a mother to several of Katherine’s friends throughout the years and lovingly called her house “Mother Theresa’s Youth Hostel.” She always enjoyed having her home filled with those she considered her other kids. Everyone knew where she kept the spare key and that there was always a bed or an air mattress available for any of them.

Theresa possessed a deep love for travel, cherishing moments spent exploring the world alongside friends and family. In 2014, she embarked on a memorable two-month journey across Europe with her daughter, a testament to her adventurous soul. She expressed her wish that her spirit continue its global travels after her passing, ensuring a piece of her would witness the world's beauty. Theresa took great pride in her commitment to health and fitness, embodying strength and determination as she competed in numerous sprint triathlons, achieving notable success including a 2nd place finish as an Amazon athlete. Her love for the outdoors was evident in her passion for hiking, particularly enjoying the unrestricted trails of South Mountain near her home. Among her greatest hiking achievements was descending to the depths of the Grand Canyon with her daughter Katherine. In her youth, Theresa pursued rock climbing fervently, often spending weekends camping with friends and scaling cliffs with Katherine safely secured in a baby carrier, fostering a shared love for adventure.

Theresa always had a quirky sense of humor. In grammar school, she switched classes with her sister Dianna as they often dressed the same. She was always willing to tell a joke, no matter how bad it was, just because she loved to see a smile on everyone’s face. Theresa loved learning to ride a Harley and went with the East Valley Engineers to Sturgis. Many referred to her as a “Bad Bitch Biker.” She enjoyed crocheting and knitting with her sister Cathy regularly attending craft fairs and sharing their creations. 

She was passionate about educating young women and girls in STEM. During her time at Intel, she was able to travel to Namibia with several other cohorts to teach coding and a passion for STEM to a school of girls. She spent over 20 years working at Intel which several other family members also dedicatedly worked for as well. She ended her career at ASM as an Executive Assistant. 

Theresa passed away in her home on June 15th, 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to One-N-Ten or Girls Who Code. These organizations work with queer youth and young women in STEM. Please reach out to the family regarding memorial details.