Karen was baptized as a baby at the Methodist church in Shickley, Nebraska, and grew up on a farm Northwest of Shickley, where her fondest memories were playing outside on the farmstead with her three brothers – even in the winter time. Karen was in the first kindergarten class in the first elementary school in Shickley and recalled it being very hot the first days of school. She graduated from Shickley High School in 1962 and then attended Nebraska Wesleyan University where she graduated in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. While attending Nebraska Wesleyan, she was a member of the marching band and had the opportunity to march at halftime of the Chicago Bears football game (played at Wrigley field at that time) in “the dead of winter.” She clearly remembered it being so cold her fingers couldn’t move and her lip froze to her flute. She missed the enactment of Title 9, so women’s sports were “nonexistent” besides high school volleyball. She did enjoy playing softball growing up and later played in the Lincoln City Rec AA league – typically playing first base because she was left-handed.
After college, Karen stayed in Lincoln and worked at the State Hospital (now known as the Regional Center) doing recreation therapy, which involved arranging activities for patients. This was a job she really enjoyed. Karen met Richard Wymore while living in Lincoln and they were married on September 16, 1969. One child, Ryan, blessed this marriage. The family moved back to Shickley where they stayed until 2020. Karen enjoyed playing catch with Ryan when he was little and never missed one of his baseball games. She also remembered playing many table games with both Ryan and her step-daughter, Alliena. Family reunions were attended every year and were the source of many stories. Big holiday family gatherings at Grandma B’s (Karen’s mother) were a tradition and gave Karen some of her most cherished memories. Karen worked 16 years for MC Industries in Geneva in the embroidery department.
In September 2020, Rich and Karen moved to Firth, Nebraska to be closer to their grandson, Christopher, and his family. Papa and Nana quickly became accustomed to attending their great-granddaughters’ sporting, school, and church events. They enjoyed being closer to extended family also. One of their favorite events was the 4th of July fireworks show put on by the Firth Rural Fire Department. Karen was diagnosed with macular degeneration, which significantly affected her eyesight in her later years. Listening to music was the one activity that didn’t require eyesight. She never missed an opportunity to attend her great granddaughters’ musical concerts and on Saturday evenings she’d listen to the Bill Gaither gospel music program on Sirius radio.
After Rich passed, Karen moved in with Christopher and Liz. She quickly became acclimated to their busy schedule; every day asking Liz, “Okay, who is going where today?” She loved listening to late-night softball recaps of the girls’ games and never complained when the family ate dinner at 10:30 p.m. after a night on the softball field. Because her eyesight was so limited, and because she lived in a house with her technology-driven ten and fourteen year-old great-granddaughters, Nana quickly learned to “ask Google” for help. Multiple times a day you’d hear her say, “Hey Google – what is the temperature outside?” or “Hey Google – play Fox News.” She believed that you could, in fact, teach an ‘old dog new tricks.’ It was important to Karen to keep her mind sharp since she couldn’t see, so she would secretly practice Brooklyn’s spelling words along with her and then would comment, “That word is way too hard for a fourth grader!” (Which really meant Nana didn’t know how to spell the word.) Nana would also listen to Brooklyn work on math homework every day after school and she wasn’t shy about mentioning, “That wasn’t how I learned to do math.” Nana even humored Raelen by attempting to learn the new teenage lingo, even though she had no idea what any of the words actually meant.
Any time Karen was hospitalized and a nurse would ask her, “What brings you joy?” – without hesitation, her answer was always “my GGs.” This was the nickname that she gave to Raelen and Brooklyn, ‘her great-granddaughters.’ Her face would light up when she had the opportunity to talk about her GGs. Karen was grateful to spend her last year sharing laughs, tears, accomplishments, and challenges with her GGs. It was a time that was a blessing to both Nana and the Gianunzio family.
In Karen’s final days, she shared with Liz that she was ready to go Home to Heaven. “I have a list of people that I want to see. But, more than anything, I’m looking forward to SEEING again.” What a joy that must have been to see once again in the presence of Jesus.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents Elvin and Bernadine Krause; husband Richard Wymore; son Ryan Wymore; and brother Gale (aka Matthew) Krause.
Karen is survived by her step-daughter Alliena Wymore-Gartzke and special friend Michael Gergen of Shickley, NE; grandson Christopher Gianunzio, wife Elizabeth, and great-granddaughters Raelen and Brooklyn Gianunzio, all of Lincoln, NE; granddaughter Tristina Taylor of Hebron, NE; brother Gary Krause and wife LaDonna of York, NE; brother Roger Krause and wife Annie of Lincoln, NE; sister-in-law Shara Krause of Portland, OR; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025 at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive in Lincoln.
Link to Service Video: https://vimeo.com/1101231584/80949925b6?share=copy