Karen Jean Bohlken

Karen Jean Bohlken, 76, of rural Wymore, died January 10, 2017, at Cambridge Place in Marysville. Visitation was Thursday, January 12, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 13, at Immanuel Lutheran (Stateline) Church, north of Marysville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Karen was born December 14, 1940, on a farm northwest of Hebron, NE, to Louis and Velva (Peake) Parrack. In 1942, they moved to a farm southwest of Narka, KS, and to Mahaska in 1947. In 1959, she graduated from Mahaska High School. She worked at the Washington County Extension Office from January 1960 until August 1961. She attended Hastings College for one semester and then transferred to Fairbury College until 1963. She taught at Shickley School for two years. She then attended Peru State College and in 1966 graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and taught special education classes in Barneston for two years. On June 12, 1966, she was united in marriage to Herman “Butch” Bohlken at Mahaska. She and her husband farmed together and raised their sons south of Wymore. Karen spent every Saturday night, during the summer, watching her sons race cars at various tracks in Kansas and Nebraska. She and Butch rarely spent time apart during their marriage. Karen enjoyed growing flowers and crocheting. She spent many hours working on her wheat weaving crafts and sewing hundreds of quilts, that were sent to Lutheran World Relief. She enjoyed providing floral arrangements, from her garden, for church on Sunday mornings. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dean Parrack; and sister-in-law, Elaine Parrack. Survivors include her husband, Butch; sons, Brad (Nikki) Bohlken and Robert (Rachel) Bohlken, both of Wymore; brother, Marvin Parrack, Fairbury, NE; sister-in-law, Jean Parrack, Conway, AR; and six grandchildren, Carson, Connor, Carly, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Johnathan Bohlken. A memorial fund has been established. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Karen Jean Bohlken, please visit our flower store.