Karen Ann Keil

Karen Ann Keil was born March 19, 1957 to Calvin L. Keil and Joyce E. Keil nee Neal in Spokane, WA. She was their first child, arriving 2 ½ months early, and spent the first part of her life in an incubator. Karen was baptized in the hospital when she was only a few days old as it was uncertain if she would survive.

Karen passed away on May 9, 2024 at MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care at Jordan in Centennial, CO from early onset, fast progressing dementia. Her family is so very thankful and grateful for the outstanding care she received at MorningStar Jordan and from her Brighton Hospice care team.

Karen was born with profound hearing loss that wasn’t discovered until she was between 3 and 4 years of age. This was well before newborn hearing screening was routinely performed before a baby goes home from the hospital. As a result, Karen’s life with hearing loss was made even more challenging as it’s important that hearing impairment be diagnosed as soon as possible, in order to avoid a delay in learning language—a process that begins the day a baby is born. Karen was then fitted with hearing aids and would spend many years in speech therapy. Despite the hand that Karen was dealt, she wasn’t about to let her profound hearing loss hold her back.

Karen’s father served in the US Air Force so the family relocated frequently, living in Spokane, WA; Orlando, FL; Wichita, KS and Omaha, NE. However, most of her life was spent living in Denver, CO where, in 1972, her father retired from the Air Force at the age of 41 after being involved in a serious car accident. Karen attended different public schools in the various places she lived, but the school that was key in giving her the tools she needed to succeed in life was the Davis School for the Deaf in Spokane, WA which she attended during the ‘65-‘66 and ‘66-‘67 school years when she was 9 and 10 years old. Through the use of mirrors, candles and other tools, Karen learned to make sounds she couldn’t hear and was taught to read lips and utter sounds. It was the only school in the region that taught deaf and hearing-impaired children using a method called “oralism,” which discourages sign language and instead pushes students to read lips and speak. Students at Davis School didn’t learn any sign language at all, unlike those who attended some of the other schools. Karen was over the moon when in July of 2004, she and her younger sister, Brenda, returned to Spokane to attend the Davis School reunion.

Karen graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, CO ~ Class of 1975 where she was the sole hearing-impaired member of her high school class. She was also a member of and served as Historian for the Future Teachers of America club. Karen worked for the Denver Public Libraries during her high school and college years, and with her love of books, it was the perfect job for her.

In 1988 Karen received a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO double majoring in Computer Information Systems and Art. She graduated with honors and was also named Outstanding Student at Large. Shortly before her college graduation, she was recruited to work as a Software Engineer for Qwest Corporation (which later became US West Communications, Inc. and most recently, CenturyLink) where she worked for 30 years. She was often recognized for her dedicated service and contributions.

Karen lost any residual hearing she had at the age of 21. After 22 years of profound deafness with hearing aids giving minimal benefit, she received Cochlear implants—her first implant (right side) in November 2000 and the second (left side) in August 2006. The Cochlear implants changed her life immensely. They gave her back what she had lost and more! She said it made life so much easier for her, her family, co-workers and friends. Karen also enjoyed sharing her Cochlear experiences with those contemplating getting implants.

Karen was a proud member of the Hearing Loss Association of America (Boulder Chapter) whose mission is to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, support and advocacy. They work at the local and State level for communication access, public policy, research, public awareness and service delivery related to hearing loss. Karen enjoyed attending the monthly meetings and various socials along with the social support she received from the many good friends she had there. She served many years as editor of the Boulder Chapter newsletter writing and using her own photographs and was an avid supporter and volunteer of the local Walk4Hearing fundraiser. She loved and looked so forward to traveling to the annual conventions in various cities across the United States and exploring new areas. Her personal travels took her to places like Ireland, London, St. Maarten Island, St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) and Nassau Bahamas, as well as to Washington State, Minnesota and the DC area to visit extended family.

Her hobbies included reading, reading and more reading. 😊 She also enjoyed collecting coins and rocks. Genealogy was another favorite. She took great joy in researching her family tree, a passion she and her mother shared. She loved photography and was the ‘official’ photographer at family events. So many fond memories were captured thanks to her which, unfortunately, resulted in a shortage of photos of herself.

Karen was very intelligent and had a keen memory. She remarkably had memories from when she was as young as a year or two. Her family referred to her as the ‘family historian’ as she could rattle off names, dates, etc. that no one else could remember.

Karen Keil is survived by her sister, Kathy (Russel) Norris of Aurora, CO; brother, Jeffrey Keil of Denver, CO; nephew Dustin (Catherine) Lee, great nieces Vera Rose Lee and Molly Rose Lee of Westminster, CO and nephew Brandon (Kara) Lee, great nieces Josie Jean Lee and Madison (Maddie) Harper Lee of Elizabeth, CO, and various other beloved relatives. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Brenda Dawn Keil, as well as various other beloved relatives.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made in Karen’s name to Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 320, Rockville, MD 20852 (Ph: 301-657-2248).