Karen Martini

August 11, 1940

January 4, 2011

Karen was born in Gering, Nebraska to Henry and Eva Johannes who farmed in the local area. She attended Gering Schools and graduated from Gering High School in 1958. She then went on to obtain her elementary education BA and MA teaching degrees at the now, University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

The start of her teaching career began in Byers, Colorado. She then moved to Colorado Springs where she taught many years in the Widefield School District at both S. A. Wilson and Webster Elementary Schools. While here, she met her future husband and they were married in Gering, NE on June 27, 1976. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Yokota Air Base in Japan where she lived three years. She enjoyed the activities of the wives club, traveling throughout Japan and the Orient and in taking several classes to develop new skills such as Ikebana flower arranging. She also taught conversational English to both Japanese Students and to business executives.

Karen then moved to Omaha, Nebraska and lived in the small suburban community of Papillion. She liked to refer to this as her “remote” assignment. On the upside, it was here that her beloved son Bryan was born. From Omaha, she was then off for a two year tour in Saudi Arabia. While there, she enjoyed travels within the country and to many European locations. She especially enjoyed hosting numerous “Theme” parties for those in her residential compound.

She then moved to Rome, NY for a couple of years before returning to Colorado and permanently settling in the town of Monument. She became a classroom volunteer at Palmer Lake Elementary where her son attended. Shortly thereafter, she resumed her teaching career at both Palmer Lake and Kilmer Elementary Schools prior to retiring. She then began participating in area social activities, always volunteering, and continuing to enjoy entertaining, cooking, traveling and in being a member of the Pikes Peak Roller’s RV Club. For her final few years, she looked forward to taking the RV to Arizona in the winter for several months.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Henry; mother, Eva; and brother, Stephen. Her sister, Ruth Johannes of Scottsbluff, NE survives as well as her loving husband, Arthur of Monument; her dear son Bryan and his loving wife Wendy, and precious grand daughter, Leah Grace of Sioux City, Iowa. Karen will be sorely missed for all that knew her, loved her dearly.

Now that she is free of the bounds of earth, her pain is gone, the suffering ended and she is at eternal rest, in the care of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.