Karen M. Israelson

Karen Milrae (Jackson) Israelson of Omaha, NE passed away on October 12, 2019 at Brookstone Village at the age of 80. Karen was born on October 24, 1938 in Upland, NE to Ernest H. and Ruby Marie (Scharff) Jackson. She was baptized in 1939 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Upland, NE. As a young child the family moved to Riverton, NE. She started school in the first grade at Riverton Public School and graduated in the class of 1956. In 1951, she was asked to model for Willa Cather by Mildred Bennett, the wife of the family’s doctor. Mrs. Bennett was the director for the Willa Cather Foundation on Red Cloud, NE. A photographer from New York came to take the photos. Karen’s photo along the banks of the Thompson Creek in Riverton was published in the March 19, 1951 issue of Life Magazine. Karen was confirmed at the Zion Lutheran Church in the spring of 1952. After graduation on the summer of 1956, she moved to Hastings, NE to find employment. It was there she met a friend of Saronville, NE who introduced her to her brother, Don W. Israelson, while they were roller skating in Sutton, NE They began dating in 1957 and she moved to Lincoln, NE where he was employed. She found a job there working as a cashier at Rupert’s Drug Store. On April 26, 1958 she was united into marriage to Don W. Israelson at the Zion Lutheran Church in Red Cloud, NE. They made their home in Lincoln. On January 6, 1959, they welcomed their first child, Michael William. They later welcomed their second child DeeAnn Milrae on June 6, 1961. In 1965, they were both employed by Western Electric and commuting to the Millard area of Omaha. It was then they decided to build their home there to be closer to work. They made their move from Lincoln to Omaha in April of 1966. On July 25, 1968 they welcomed their third child, Kimberly Karen. They continued to live and work for the same company which later became AT&T. On April 30, 1989, Don passed away suddenly of congestive heart failure. She continued to work for AT&T until her retirement in 2001 after 30 years of service. She continued to live in their home and do her own house and yard work for as long as she was able. She was happiest when her family was all together for holidays and get togethers to enjoy a nice meal. She did enjoy traveling as well. The highlight of all her trips was in September 1974 when she traveled to Denmark with her mother to connect with some of her grandmother’s family. She is preceded in death by her husband Don; parents; and in-laws. She leaves to mourn her passing her son Michael and wife Connie, daughter DeeAnn Barry and fiancé Randy Ferris, and daughter Kimberly Rydberg; Grandchildren Kristal (Logan Graham) and Cody Rydberg (Katie), Donovan Carr, and Timothy Headley; Great-grandchildren Landon Graham, and Devin Rydberg, all of Omaha; Her sister Kathleen Janssen and husband Gary of Franklin, NE;significant other John Ahlborg and his daughter Crystal Rae (Zachary Health) and their children, Zoe, Jack, and Zane; son Matthew Ahlborg, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. Visitation: Tuesday, October 15 from 5-7 pm at Braman Mortuary Southwest Chapel. Funeral Service: Wednesday, Oct 16 at 10:30 am at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 7706 So 96th St, LaVista NE. Interment: Voss Mohr Cemetery