Karen Sue Osborne
Karen Sue Osborne, 79, Andover, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2022, with her family by her side. Karen is survived by her loving husband Larry Osborne; brother Ralph Peterson and wife Laurel; son Mike Osborne and Stacey Wohlford; daughter Michelle Osborne; grandchildren Jacqueline Martinez, Tiarra Osborne, Cole Ferris, and Haley Ferris; and great-grandchild Emmylou Osborne.
Karen was born June 18, 1943, in Parkerville, Kansas, to Clifford and Leota Peterson. She grew up in the Kelso community where she would later attend Council Grove High School, and went on to major in Home Economics at Kansas State University. After graduation she married her high school sweetheart, Larry, in 1965, and the two moved to Wichita. In 1974, she opened an in-home daycare, which she ran for thirty five years. Karen considered those children and their family part of her own. Karen and Larry settled in Andover in 1977, where they raised their children.
Karen was the current president of Beta Beta in Andover, where she served with her sorority sisters for over 53 years. Beta Beta is a philanthropic sorority which contributes to organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Goodwill, Harry Hynes Hospice, and The Cancer Center. She set up many events for Beta Beta and helped fundraise by working a variety of venues. Karen also served the Andover Public Library by preparing donated books and organizing events for children and their families, including Tea Time and Petting Zoos. Over the past five years, Karen devoted her time to the Andover Senior Center, where she served as President for two years and on the board for three years. While at the Senior Center, Karen prepared the popular Wednesday meals, and assisted with the Memory Program, which aids community members with dementia and Alzheimer’s. She spent countless hours on many other events, including Greater Andover Days Bingo and numerous fundraisers, often with Larry by her side.
Karen was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and human being. Her life with Larry was full of abundant gardens of grapes, vegetables, wildflowers, and birds. They traveled to all 50 states and multiple National Parks, and brought back a refrigerator magnet from each place. Karen loved to host parties for sorority, friends’ life events, and charities. Life was never boring with Grandma Karen around. She always made sure you were fed, always asked if you wanted to play cards, and always wanted to make your favorite meal. Karen seemed to know the latest gossip and made sure to stay up to date with the times. She cared so deeply for everyone she met and everyone who met her loved her. Anytime anyone needed anything, Karen was there. A true servant with a heart of gold.
In memory of Karen the services are as follows: Visitation: Sunday, July 31st, 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Hope Community Church. Celebration of Life: Monday, August 1st, 10:30 am at Hope Community Church in The Barn. Address for Hope Community Church:1831 E 21st St, Andover, KS 67002 Graveside: Tuesday, August 9th, 10:00 am at Greenwood Cemetery in Council Grove Kansas.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to Karen’s favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Andover Senior Center.