Kirstan A Neukam

Kirstan Anne Neukam, 54, of Bushland, passed peacefully on April 6, 2025, in her home surrounded by her family.

Viewing will be on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Funeral services will take place on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., in The Loft Church, 4400 S. Georgia, with Pastor Joe Tindall presiding. 

It was Devine intervention! I prayed so hard for the Lord to send me an angel, a better half, someone to complete me. Kirstan came to me and took me out of the partying and running around scene. She is the only lady that I ever took home to meet my parents... Mom and Earl. Our trip stopped at Grandpa and Grandma's house in Fort Collins, Colorado. THEY LOVED her. Grandpa knew Grandma was a little skeptical. Grandma was the biggest fan and her blessing, and when I proposed, and she said yes… that sealed the deal!

Kirstan and I met on a blind date set up by my sister Tami (Tami and Kirstan worked together and often went out together) the day after Christmas. Kirstan's side of the story was that she wasn't on a date, just having drinks after work...my side of the story is it was, definitely a blind date. Kirstan entered Tami's apartment in a blue baby doll dress. She had strawberry blond curly hair that reached her mid-back. She was and still is amazingly beautiful. Throughout the night, I tried to make conversation and get her to dance to get to know this amazing lady. She kept her shield up. As night turned to early morning and we were playing pool, I wagered a bet with her that if I sank the 8 ball, she would come back to Tami's apartment for an after-hours party... this is where our stories diverge... my story is that I sank the 8 ball and won. She says that I scratched and lost. Because I'm telling the story, I sank the 8 ball.... WINNER! The night we met was the night she moved in. I didn't take her home (she was living with her parents) for 3 days. I was such a punk. I can't believe we would have been married for 30 years this April 22nd.

From the start, our plan was to put Kirstan through school first, and then I would go back. She graduated from University of Texas, Permian Basin (UTPB) with a psychology BA. Kirstan was so brilliant! Suma cum-laude. She could study and read the text the morning before an exam and get a 100%. It was so easy for her. She could have been anything... a doctor, lawyer, veterinarian.

She accepted a position with the State for a program serving the Mental Health Mental Retardation (MHMR) community as Assessment coordinator. She would work with clients to develop treatment plans... Turns out that BA in Psychology pays a salary equivalent to minimum wage. Kirstan applied to an upper graduate program and was selected as one of two full ride recipients at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater. This is the first of 4 significant moves we made together. As a military "Brat" the fear of picking up and moving didn't affect Kirstan like some people with major change. We just sold everything and moved to Stillwater.

The program was a combined Masters and PhD. Kirstan's thesis developed why people planned for retirement and why they didn't. Her FIS/FAS scales were published, and she presented at seminars. During her upper graduate time at OSU, the university paid her stipends to teach undergraduate courses... Intro to psychology, statistics, intro to developmental psychology, and research methods. Kirstan exited the program everything but dissertation (EBD). Her masters was enough, and she left!

This was the second of the 4 significant moves we made together. Kirstan left the university and accepted a position at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) as Director of Institutional Research and Assessment located in Goodwell OK. Kirstan transformed OPSU accreditation reporting and built a professional relationship of delivering accurate and timely reports. While facilitating OPSU through the Higher Learning Accreditation Program (Academy of the Assessment of Student Learning) process improvement, she was developing her skill in mentoring schools. The Higher Learning Commission recruited Kirstan as a mentor to help other colleges and universities progress through the program… developing a plan, implementing the plan, and auditing the plan for incremental measured delivery that is trackable and transparent.

Kirstan was recruited to accept a position at Governors State University as Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness in Illinois. This is the third of 4 significant moves we made together. At GSU, Kirstan facilitated and mentored process improvement system through team building, ownership, and accountability by staff and administration. Upon successful completion of GSU audit, Kirstan moved to the next institution. Northwestern College; a not-for-profit institution. Kirstan accepted the role as Dean, Institutional Research supporting Northwestern College in Illinois.

Kirstan’s fourth and final significant move was to return to a familiar area of the Texas Panhandle and work for her dad to manage the Amarillo Office for WesTex Document Destruction, LLC. Tyler Hoskins (one of two nephews), John Miller (Kirstan’s Dad), and Kirstan all moved in the common direction to run this company. Tyler remembers always going to Amarillo to visit with Aunty (Kirstan) and enjoy an exciting get away from Lubbock. Kirstan was always fair and understanding as she supported Tyler and pushed the company forward.

On the personal side, Kirstan was the best cook and baker. Over the years, I gained 90 lbs. It's all due to her cooking. Rita (Kirstan’s mom), thank you for your skill in passing on baking and cooking! I know it was you that let Kirstan be part of the meal prep growing up. I am going to starve to death spiritually and literally. Kirstan used to bake cookies for me to take to work so that it would influence my leadership and competing area engineers while we drove roads and selected project based on needs and merits… the cookies broke down barriers and opened collaboration between area offices.

Kirstan was a cancer warrior. Over the past 3 years, 2 chemo treatments and 4 drug trials Kirstan has battled so hard. She has completely done her part!! There is NOT a stronger lady, wife, sister, daughter, and daughter-in-law! Kirstan entered hospice care a week ago. This stage is called palliative care, in which hospice will be managing her pain for comfort.

The middle of the night, all is quiet, and Kirstan is so easy to talk to. Our conversations are innocent and open! Her mind is so brilliant, but the body is so broken. She is such a great partner... asked me what time it is? 1:00am is my response, and she says... bars are closing, you don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. One of her jobs was that while bar tending in Lubbock, she would have to close and kick people out at the end of her shift. Daisy (our senior dog) drops her guard, Maggie (our other dog) jumps in bed to comfort Kirstan, Biscuit (3rd of 4 dogs) follows and checks us to the RR. Kirstan surprised me by climbing out of bed (with the rails up) and got in her wheelchair. She taps me on the foot to assist her to the RR. She has such strength.

Kirstan had an agenda this week. Early Saturday morning a week ago, Kirstan had me gather up all her jewelry in every nook and cranny from around our house. She wanted to give important family heirlooms to Kari (Kirstan’s sister). The second task was to craft again with my mom. Kirstan and my mom have built a friendship and enjoy crafting together. Kirstan had me clear the dining table and they sat doing blow art. The third task was taking care of me! She made a specific pile of documents for retirement accounts and power of attorney.

The late-night passes so slowly tonight! Kirstan sleeps and is resting from a good day visiting and crafting. What an amazing woman! She is so tired nowadays. She accepts that her time is limited. We talked about the journey and who will meet her to take her to heaven. I think my stepdad Earl will be the guide. Kirstan and Earl had a good bond. Earl had a bond with everyone he encountered. I want to tell you the most profound statement that I was told today... "our pledge to love, honor, and cherish is most important at this time. It is at this time we give permission to our loved one that it's OK to pass. We'll be ok! I will be OK! Don't worry about me. Your comfort awaits you in Heaven."

Kirstan is survived by her husband of almost 30 years this April 22nd, 2025. Her Mother Torill Rita Miller, Her Father John Miller, Her Sister Kari Hoskins-Clark, Her Nephews Tyler Hoskins and Bryce Hoskins.

I love you so much! Corky

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to any of the wonderful animal charities or shelters in honor of Kirstan and her love for all animals.