Karen Lou (Holka) Kremer was born Dec. 20, 1950, in Elmwood, and passed away peacefully on July 21, 2023, with her family by her side.
Karen was the oldest sibling in her family and was raised around Elmwood, Eagle, Raymond and Malcolm. Karen attended Crounse District 47 County School K-5, then Malcolm Public Schools, graduating high school in 1969. Karen went on to college at UN-L, where she graduated with a teaching degree in 1973. Karen taught school for a total of 38 years, retiring from Milford Public Schools, where she taught for 35 years and served as a first grade teacher most of the time. Karen loved the challenges of being a teacher and especially loved teaching children to read, noting her favorite students to teach were usually the ornery ones!
Karen married Virgil Kremer on April 8, 1977, and officially became a farm wife, too. Elisha and Luke were added to their family. Karen really enjoyed going to their school events and was an avid supporter of her nieces and nephews, too. She was just so proud of all of them. Being married and having her children were the best days of Karen’s life. And then came her son-in-law, Loren, daughter-in-law, Stef and Karen’s grandchildren, Aliana, Jaxon and Hank. Once a teacher, always a teacher and a lifetime lover of books (just ask George, the Milford librarian). Karen would go on to build bonds with her grandchildren by sharing her love of reading with them.
Karen made many friends over the years and maintained friendships with her Crounse school mates, high school friends, buddies from college, teaching partners, neighbors and United Methodist Church family. Karen deeply valued her relationships and was quick to say that she felt rich in both friendships and support.
Described as strong as steel, Karen leaves this world a better place, after a 13-year battle with cancer. She is preceded in death by parents, Charles and Donna Holka, and in-laws, LaVern and Ruth Kremer. Karen is survived by her husband, Virgil Kremer; daughter, Elisha (Loren) Sites; son, Lucas (Stef) Kremer; grandchildren Aliana, Jaxon and Hank; brothers, Alan and Brian Holka; in-laws, Larry (Ila) Kremer, Kenneth (Dorothy) Kremer, John (Marge) Kremer, and David (Patsy) Kremer; many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A Celebration of Life is planned Saturday, Aug. 26, at 1:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Milford. There will be a private family inurnment at a later date at the Blue Mound Cemetery in Milford. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Milford Public Schools Foundation – Karen Kremer, and to the family for future designation. Arrangements by Lauber Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
