Katelyn Nicole “Shortcake” Heier

Miss Katelyn Nicole “Shortcake” Heier, 21, dance instructor for the Newton Performing Arts Center passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

Katelyn was the embodiment of the word Joy. The light, love and laughter she brought to every room was infectious. She spent most of her day surrounded by family, friends and all her dancers. Her love of dance and music started at the age of 3 and carried her throughout her entire life. After she joined Newton Performing Arts Center dance become her entire life. You could always catch her jamming out to Beyoncé, or singing Hamilton for the world to hear. After graduating high school, she went on to teach dance, sharing her passion of the sport with all the littles. Her artistic abilities went beyond music and dance, she also loved to paint and bejewel everything she owned. After she left the studio, she would often go home to an evening of coloring or painting. Katelyn’s bubbly personality, and unmatched sense of humor drew people to her, which went far beyond blood. However, her three siblings were built-in best friends from late night Braum’s or Taco Bell runs to roping their parents into crazy shenanigans, there was always a lot of laughter. She often spent time poking fun at her mama, forcing her dad to make TikToks and stealing clothes from her family’s closets. She always got away with stealing her daddy’s shirts. Katelyn prided herself on being her mama’s mini me and having her daddy wrapped around her pinky. She was the shining light in her family. Always bringing silly phrases and laughter to everyone she touched with her beautiful smile and personality. Her love for her people was something fierce.

“I am inimitable I am an original” – Hamilton

Katelyn is survived by her loving parents: Kevin and Angela Heier. Siblings; Jessica (Brandon) Seiler, Brendon (Candy) Heier, and Jacob Heier.

Recitation of the rosary will be said at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17th and the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18th both will be held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church 3642 N. Ridge Rd. Wichita, Ks.

In lieu of flowers memorial may be sent to Newton Performing Arts Center: c/o Wulf-Ast Mortuary (911 Biermann-Garden Plain, Kansas 67050).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Katelyn Nicole "Shortcake" Heier, please visit our floral store.