Katie Prins

Katie (Schindler) Prins, 25, Corpus Christi, Texas, formerly of Bismarck, died Oct. 29, 2016, at her parents' home in Bismarck. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Grace Point Church, 205 43rd Ave. N.E., Bismarck. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Grace Point Church, where a prayer and worship service will begin at 7 p.m.

Kaitlin Jane Schindler was born July 21, 1991, to Keith and Karen (Kirkeide) Schindler in Bismarck, truly a towhead. She was soon joined by her beloved sisters, Kelly and Tori. They grew up sharing family trips to the lake, playing sports and hanging out with extended family and friends.

Katie attended Shiloh Christian School and quickly came to love her classmates and teachers. Her involvements included soccer, volleyball and choir, but her favorite was always basketball. That passion led to many challenges, rivalries and heartbreaks but also challenges met, championships earned and friendships made that lasted her lifetime. She was proud to represent Shiloh Christian School.

Katie was always so selfless and caring that it caught no one by surprise that after she graduated high school in 2009, she pursued her dream of becoming a physical therapist at the University of North Dakota. It didn't take Katie long to turn that new school full of strangers into a close knit group of friends. Katie knew everyone on campus and of course everyone knew her. Little did she know that one of the boys she met her freshman year would later become her "Prins" charming. It took three years before either one of them realized what was right before their eyes. Nick and Katie started dating in her last year at UND, before she transferred to Creighton University in order to complete her doctorate in physical therapy. It was a tough decision to transfer because it meant this love-struck couple would be apart for the better part of three years.

Distance did in fact make the heart grow fonder. After Katie's graduation on May 14, 2016, she moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. She and Nick were reunited and soon engaged to be married. Katie finally got to live her dream of working as a PT, where she immensely enjoyed caring for her patients. Nick and Katie were married on Sept. 4, 2016, a magical time for all. Katie's health struggles led to hospitalization in Houston Sept. 27. Sadly, she returned to Bismarck on hospice care Oct. 18 and 11 days later received her call to heaven.

Katie's faith journey was beautiful. She accepted Christ as her savior at a very young age. She enjoyed AWANA, youth groups, bible camps and CRU. She spread God's love on mission trips in Honduras, Ghana and South Carolina.

Her love of Jesus and basketball intersected at cross training basketball camps, where she attended and later coached. This ministry touched her deeply and enabled her to touch other young athletes with God's love. Katie's friendliness, joyfulness, inclusiveness and loyalty helped her develop relationships and friendships all along life's way.

She will be sorely missed by her husband, Nick; her parents, Keith and Karen; her sisters, Kelly and Tori; her grandparents, Mel and Laura Schindler; her in-laws, Ron and Nanette Prins, Bobbi (Dan), Christine and Jay (Elizabeth); and beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her beloved Grandma Pat and Grandpa Vonnie Kirkeide.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund in Katie's name is being established.

Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Katie and sign the online guest book. (Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)