Karren Elmshaeuser
Karren L. Elmshaeuser, 79 of Ogallala, passed away Friday, August 14, 2020, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Karren was born August 2, 1941, at Julesburg, Colorado, to Matthew and Violet (Wilson) Schmitt. She graduated from Perkins County High School in Grant, with the class of 1959. After graduation, she attended Central Business College in Denver, Colorado graduating in 1960. Karren then moved to Greeley, Colo., where she worked for a year in the Real Estate Department of the Greeley National Bank.
On June 17, 1961 Karren married a native Ogallala boy, Roger Elmshaeuser, at Grant. The couple lived in Greeley until 1962 when they moved to Ogallala. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Loretta and Teresa.
After moving back to Ogallala, Karren was a stay-at-home mom for their two daughters until 1970 when she went to work at the Ogallala Public School Superintendent’s office. She worked as secretary for the superintendent, and later the athletic director, before becoming a bookkeeper for the District. Karren worked for 37 years at Ogallala Public Schools retiring in August of 2007. Karren was also the bookkeeper for her husband’s portable welding business.
She began selling AVON in 1986 and after retirement from the school district, became a substitute para-educator (teacher’s aide) for the Ogallala schools.
She also sold tickets at all home ball games which she had done for the majority of her 37 years.
Karren was a longtime member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, where she had taught Faith Formation for more than 50 years. She was also very active in the Altar Society and Women’s Choir.
Karren was preceded in death by her parents, one half-brother Darrold Pierpoint, one half-sister, Jean (Schmitt) Welch and a brother Leonard Schmitt.
Survivors include her husband, Roger, children Loretta and Teresa, grandchildren, Chad George, Jessie Elmshaeuser, Tiffany George, Felicia (George) Richardson, Orin George and one great-grandson, Rowdy Richardson.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Karren’s memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where a recording of the service will be posted.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala with Father Bryan Ernest as Celebrant. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m. preceding Mass on Saturday at the Church.
Inurnment will be at the Ogallala Cemetery.
Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.