Karen Burgeson

A Funeral Service for Karen K. (Vaughn) Burgeson will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 531 S. College Avenue in Fort Collins, CO. https://youtube.com/live/3S9-g-9lbZc?feature=share

An open house for friends and family of Karen K. (Vaughn) Burgeson will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska.  The casket will not be present.

A Private Interment will be held at the Immanuel Cemetery, rural Bertrand, Nebraska, with Pastor John Strackbein officiating.

Karen Kay (Vaughn) Burgeson met her Lord Jesus on Thursday, August 10, 2023. She was born August 27, 1939 in Holdrege, and baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She spent her childhood years on the farm, beginning her education in a one-room schoolhouse, and completed high school in Bertrand.

She was 21 years old when she married her husband John, whom she was lovingly married to for over 61 years. She worked as a telephone operator and at a bank in Nebraska before becoming a homemaker when she had her daughters, Laurie and Jodi. She volunteered at Poudre Valley Hospital and worked part time at Colorado State University. She also served at church, helping with ushering, serving meals, providing rides, etc.

Karen loved to cook, garden, sew, and was a gifted pianist/accompanist. She moved with John and the children 14 times, and made and kept in touch with friends all over the country. Karen loved spending time with both family and countless friends, and endlessly encouraged others in prayer throughout her life. Above all, just like her husband, she was a woman of absolute devoted faith in Jesus Christ. She was a rock of faith for her entire family, and was truly a model of the theology of which she professed: she loved without condition and served both the Lord and others wholeheartedly (Matthew 25:23).

She was preceded in death by her father and mother: Kenneth and Cornelia Vaughn; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Roy and Mary Ann; brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jim and Karen Henry, Mary Lou Payton, and sister, Joy Bennett, along with many dear family members and friends.

Karen is survived by her two children: Laurie Buckley (Dave) and Jodi Allison (Mike); her six grandchildren: Nick (Heather), Jarryd (Lauren), Devin (Adrienne), Sean, Emily (Mike), and Anna (Garrett); and her 17 great-grandchildren: Carter, Carsten, Arjen, Aksel, Nora, Soren, Kristoffer, Dane, Titus, (and a great-grandbaby due next month!), Riker, Annie, Rowan, Josie, Ellie, Sophie, and Jackson; along with her siblings: Kathleen (Leroy) Laaker, Stan (Connie) Vaughn and brother-in-law, Larry Bennett, plus her brothers-in-law Jim (Joyce), David, and Mike (Connie).

Memorials in Karen's honor can be directed to First Presbyterian Church, 531 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.