Karen Suzette Steinke

Karen Suzette (Spencer) Steinke July 7, 1951 February 9, 2020 Karen Suzette (Spencer) Steinke passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska after a courageous 13-year battle with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was 68 years old. Her journey lead her to be an inspiration to other cancer survivors by her positive outlook and determination to beat all the odds. Her caring spirit drew so many people close, "if you knew her you loved her". Karen never missed an opportunity to help others, she would send handwritten notes with sometimes empty candy wrappers or confetti just to make you smile. Karen was born to Russel B. and Lavonna (Henze) Spencer in Palisade, Nebraska on July 7, 1951. She was raised in Palisade and Culbertson, graduating from Palisade High School and McCook Community College. On April 3, 1971 she married James E. Steinke of McCook. They made their home at Fort Hood Military Base in Killeen, Texas. They then returned to McCook where she was employed at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, Nebraska Probation Office, Dr. Laverne Blank DDS, Kennedy & Coe CPA and the McCook Memorial United Methodist Church where she had 22 years of dedicated service known as the "Church Lady". After living in McCook for 35 years, Jim and Karen moved to Lexington, Nebraska where they resided for 11 years. They finally decided to move to Kearney, Nebraska to be closer to their daughter where they have lived for the past 3 years. Karen loved keeping busy and being involved in her many organizations, Circle 7, Garden Club, P.E.O. Chapter FA (McCook) and HV (Lexington), Red Hatters, Quilt Guild, The 4 Patches, and The Lake Luncheon Ladies. She loved everyone in these amazing groups and always felt like they were family. She cherished every moment spent with them. She was a member of the McCook Memorial United Methodist church, service clubs and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren, camping with friends and family, knitting, gardening, attending craft shows and crafting, reading, chocolate with caramel, watching the Eagles at Johnson Lake and watching the cranes. Karen is preceded in death by her parents Russel and Lavonna Spencer and her parent in-laws John and Ruby Steinke. She is survived by her husband Jim of Kearney; two daughters Jennifer (C.J.) Pietrzak of Hartsville, South Carolina and Keri (Clayton) Waddle of Gibbon, Nebraska; three grandsons Kyler J. Gartner of Houston, Texas, Braden Robinson of Allendale, South Carolina and Jaxson Pietrzak of Hartsville; two granddaughters Savannah Pietrzak of Hartsville and Ezri Waddle of Gibbon; one brother Craig Spencer of McCook; a brother-in-law John (Kay) Steinke of Des Moines, Iowa and two nephews and their families. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 10AM at the McCook Memorial United Methodist Church the service will be led by Rev. Jeff Thurman followed by a lunch celebrating her life. Memorial donations in memory of Karen may be made to the family and designated at a later time. Hermann Jones funeral home of McCook is in charge of arrangements. Memorial Service Memorial United Methodist Church Saturday, February 15, 2020 10:00 AM 105 East E Street McCook, Nebraska 69001