Karen Kay Schemmel of Overland Park, KS, passed away peacefully on November 29, 2021 from her battle with Alzheimer’s at age 77. The youngest of six children, Karen was born in Remsen, Iowa to parents, Al and Sylvia Roder, where they lived on a farm. Karen graduated from Remsen St. Mary High School in 1962.
In 1966, she earned her R.N. degree at Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa and afterwards, was employed at Iowa City Veteran’s Hospital. In 1966, she married Dennis Schemmel of Granville, Iowa to whom she remained happily married for 55 years. Together, they moved to Milwaukee, WI where Karen continued her nursing at Milwaukee Veteran’s Hospital. The couple also lived in Athens, Ohio where Karen worked as a nurse for several years at the University of Ohio Health Center before ultimately settling in Lenexa, KS in 1969.
While raising their three beloved children, Karen served for over nine years as a nurse providing immunizations for the Johnson County Health Department. Later in adulthood she moved to Overland Park, KS and completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Ottawa University. Afterwards, she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling at the University of Kansas. Karen immensely enjoyed co-teaching with Denny the marriage and family enrichment class at the University of Missouri Kansas City, and the couple also frequently co-presented on these topics for numerous other area organizations and programs always injecting a good dose of humor into the lively and insightful classroom discussions.
Throughout her years, Karen was an active and joyous servant member of Holy Trinity, Holy Spirit, and Church of the Ascension parishes where she eagerly volunteered in numerous capacities, most notably, when she initiated and led for over fourteen years a bereavement ministry for the parish along with her husband, Denny, served as a long-term Eucharistic Minister/Sacristan, and volunteered for several area parish retreats. Additionally, Karen served in a leadership capacity for the national Marriage Encounter organization, where she was an active member for over forty years organizing and presenting at retreats and weekends dedicated to community and faith-based marriage and family enrichment. Always eager for spiritual growth, Karen also chose to study Ignation prayer which included dedication to daily prayer, meditation, and contemplative practices. While she was passionate and determined in every facet of her life, she was especially devoted to deepening and sharing her faith life as evidenced by her life-long dedication to her variety of spiritual activities.
Karen loved to travel too taking great delight in exploring God’s creations and making frequent visits to spend time with family and friends. Trip highlights included family camping and canoeing trips, a journey to the Holy Land with her church community, and also in 2016, a family Disney Cruise with her children and grandchildren to celebrate her golden anniversary with Denny, the love of her life.
A bright, bright light, Karen kept an active, busy schedule including competitive USTA and Tencap tennis clubs, Bible study, and especially cheering on her family and favorite sports teams. She had a special gift for connecting with others and was known for her hearty laugh, gift of gab, upbeat energetic spirit, colorful style, and generous hospitality for which she was greatly cherished.
Warm and gregarious, Karen always lit up a room with her infectious smile and laugh and was a frequent and vivacious host enthusiastically opening her home for festivities of all kinds: holidays, celebrations, committee meetings, and even long-term guests. Karen loved sharing her life with others and took an active interest in everyone she met. She also was an exceptional and tireless baker and cook, always understanding the power of a good meal or treat to bring people together for fun times or to comfort someone in need. In short, to encounter Karen was an experience in being uplifted. God gifted her with a special array of interpersonal talents that were designed to bring out the very best in those she encountered.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis, and their three children, Kristi married to Ward Taylor, Scott married to Nicci and Todd married to Celeste. She was loving Grandma to seven grandchildren Ben, Nate, Nick, Hannah, Andrew, Alex and Joshua who were her pride and joy.
Karen is also survived by brother Dick (Mary) Roder, and Paul (Betty) Roder.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Al and Sylvia Roder, brothers Gerald and Jim Roder, and her sister Jan Klein.
Funeral Mass for Karen will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 10 am at the Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th Street. Preceding Mass, there will be a visitation from 9-10 am. The Mass will also be streamed on the church’s YouTube channel which can be found at the following link: www.kcascension.org/media/live. A memorial luncheon will directly follow the Mass service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Karen’s honor to Catholic Community Hospice, 16201 West 95th Street, Suite 220, Lenexa, KS 66219, www.catholiccommunityhospice.com, or the Alzheimer’s Association- Heart of America Chapter, 3846 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS. 66208, www.alz.org/kansascity.