Born in Lincoln, Nebraska April 13, 1940
Died in Omaha, Nebraska November 16, 2024
Preceded in death by parents Orville and Gladys Anderson, brothers Eldon (Link) Anderson, Buzz Anderson, and daughter Karen Dierking.
Karen passed away from complications of lung cancer. She was surrounded in her final weeks and days by many who loved her. She’s survived by: husband Don Wall, children Vicki Mayfield, Jayne Engle, Roxzanne Feagan, Jay Abbott and Jim Abbott plus 14 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and many step grandchildren.
Karen (Anderson) Wall was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, and moved to Omaha as a young child with her mom and two older brothers after inheriting their grandparents’ home. She attended Jackson Elementary School through 8th grade and then Tech High. As a teen-ager, Karen was a rule breaker, wearing pants instead of skirts and racing the “boys off the line” once she started to drive.
Karen's first jobs included working at the downtown Brandeis Department Store (where her mother also worked), Penny’s Department Store and then as a new mother, at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. While raising three daughters on her own in the late seventies, Karen earned her Cosmetology certification at Capitol Beauty School. She eventually ran her own single-chair salon out of her house, while raising three more children, also mostly on her own. To make ends meet, she made and sold beautiful crafts, worked for the Omaha World Herald and drove a school bus for Omaha Public Schools. Then she met her husband Don Wall, who brought more laughter and adventure into her life. Together they traveled, hosted card clubs and tended to children. After many years running her home salon, Karen “retired” to continue home remodeling, redecorating, and tending to flower gardens and grandchildren full time.
Karen, a.k.a Mom, Ma, Grandma, Gma Mo-Mo, loved being surrounded by her family. She was a natural nurturer, with a child-like curiosity of her own, enabling her to engage with her kids and grandkids with ease. Her greatest passions were sewing, crafting and gardening, earning the nicknames “The Other Martha Stewart” and “Mrs. Claus”. Living in the same house for fifty four years near Peony Park, her home was her castle (and some would say Hobby Lobby). Always the ultimate host of any family gathering, she’d go over the top with her decorations and delicious home made food. Inside, her home was a constant reflection of the interior design style of the time. With properly placed furniture for displaying her favorite knick knacks, she effortlessly mixed her whimsical sense of humor with her acute sense of style. And if you asked anyone, her house was always ready to welcome anyone who walked through the door.
With all the interests Karen had, gardening was her true love. Her flower beds were an extension of her: beautiful and joyous. From her greenhouse, she grew most of her flowers from seed, and tended to them like children, with attention, love and care.
Karen will be remembered as a joyful mother, mother in-law, wife and friend. She lived life with flair. She loved clothes, shoes and accessories (especially big necklaces, bracelets and rings). She always kept her nails long and painted and her hair done just right. Though she was a private person, details mattered to her and she believed they would matter to others. And it was in those details, like in a perfectly wrapped gift, a delicious meal or a stunning bouquet, where all of her love and care for everyone in her orbit was on full display. Karen’s big smile, easy laugh, inner and outer beauty will be fondly remembered and forever missed.
Celebration of Karen's Life: Saturday, November 23 at 3 pm, with visitation one hour prior to the service, at Braman Mortuary 72nd St. Chapel, 1702 N. 72nd St., Omaha, NE
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