Zeta Tau Alpha Mourns the Loss of a Sister from Indiana University

CARMEL, INDIANA— Zeta Tau Alpha grieves the loss of Kate Johnson, beloved sister of Alpha Xi Chapter (Indiana University) who passed away Saturday, June 6, 2026, after an almost three-year long battle with cancer.

Kate, 22, from Chesterfield, Missouri recently graduated from IU's Kelley School of Business with a degree in marketing and professional sales. She gave a commencement speech to her fellow graduates on Saturday, May 9, 2026. She was initiated into ZTA in spring 2023 and served the chapter as Director of Activities, Junior Panhellenic Delegate, and a member of the Recruitment Morale committee.

Outside of ZTA, Kate was involved with Kate's Krew, a nonprofit that supports sarcoma research in St. Louis and shared Kate's journey with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma. On campus, she was also involved with the IU Dance Marathon.

"To know Kate was to know pure sunshine. She embodied everything Zeta stands for and she left every person and every place better than she found it," shared chapter Vice President Philanthropy & Service Sami Sloan. "Her legacy is not only in what she accomplished, but in the countless lives she touched with her beautiful soul. Kate is truly one of a kind, and we feel entirely blessed getting the privilege to know and love her the way we did. We will always look out for your yellow."

Zeta Tau Alpha sends its deepest sympathies to Kate’s family during this impossible time.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 15 from 2-8 p.m. at Schrader Funeral Home in Ballwin, MO. Chapters and individuals who wish to offer condolences to Alpha Xi Chapter may send them to International Office:

Zeta Tau Alpha International Office
1036 S. Rangeline Road
Carmel, IN 46032