Karen
Karen Unglesbee
d. January 10, 2012
Karen M. Unglesbee, 61, died January 10, 2012, at home in the arms of her husband, daughter and daughter- and son-in-law, after a three-year battle with stage 4 breast cancer.
She was born in Geneseo, Ill., on March 18, 1950, to Marlo and Maxine Carlson, who both preceded her in death.
Karen grew up on a livestock farm, helping tend to chickens and cooking meals for farmhands, feeding up to 15 workers at a time. She graduated from Geneseo High School in 1968 before taking a highly confidential job with the U.S. Army at the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Ill.
In Overland Park, Kan., Karen worked as an administrative assistant at the Marley Cooling Tower Company, where she met Dale Unglesbee. The two married on June 27, 1992.
A practiced gourmet cook, Karen took joy and pride in her tacos, guacamole, French onion soup, chocolate sauce and, in the estimation of husband Dale, "the best gravy in the state." She loved cooking for friends and family and at one time taught French cooking classes at Wichita State University.
Karen remained a classy, brave, sassy and resolutely independent woman up to the very end of her life. Her death marked the end of a courageous fight against cancer that began when she was first diagnosed in 1985.
Karen leaves behind her husband Dale Unglesbee; daughter Jennifer (Lundell) Rucker; step children Gloria Unglesbee Soliz, Katy Unglesbee Joseph and Ben Unglesbee; sister Julanne Carlson Lobaito; brother David Carlson; five wonderful grandchildren—Brynn, Aliyah, Elijah, Levi and Tovah—and several nieces and nephews whom she adored and who adored her.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer's Sons at 8201 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS from 6:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday January 13th. A memorial service to celebrate Karen's life will be held Saturday January 11 at 11:00.am. at D.W. Newcomer's Sons at 11200 Metcalf Avenue. Memorial contributions may be made to KC Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, KC, MO 64145.
She was born in Geneseo, Ill., on March 18, 1950, to Marlo and Maxine Carlson, who both preceded her in death.
Karen grew up on a livestock farm, helping tend to chickens and cooking meals for farmhands, feeding up to 15 workers at a time. She graduated from Geneseo High School in 1968 before taking a highly confidential job with the U.S. Army at the Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Ill.
In Overland Park, Kan., Karen worked as an administrative assistant at the Marley Cooling Tower Company, where she met Dale Unglesbee. The two married on June 27, 1992.
A practiced gourmet cook, Karen took joy and pride in her tacos, guacamole, French onion soup, chocolate sauce and, in the estimation of husband Dale, "the best gravy in the state." She loved cooking for friends and family and at one time taught French cooking classes at Wichita State University.
Karen remained a classy, brave, sassy and resolutely independent woman up to the very end of her life. Her death marked the end of a courageous fight against cancer that began when she was first diagnosed in 1985.
Karen leaves behind her husband Dale Unglesbee; daughter Jennifer (Lundell) Rucker; step children Gloria Unglesbee Soliz, Katy Unglesbee Joseph and Ben Unglesbee; sister Julanne Carlson Lobaito; brother David Carlson; five wonderful grandchildren—Brynn, Aliyah, Elijah, Levi and Tovah—and several nieces and nephews whom she adored and who adored her.
A visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer's Sons at 8201 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS from 6:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday January 13th. A memorial service to celebrate Karen's life will be held Saturday January 11 at 11:00.am. at D.W. Newcomer's Sons at 11200 Metcalf Avenue. Memorial contributions may be made to KC Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, KC, MO 64145.
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