Karen Alice Conklin

Karen Alice Conklin was called home to the Lord on April 2, 2026, at the age of 88. She grew up in Greendale, Wisconsin, one of three Greenbelt towns that were part of a program started by the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration to provide suburban living to low-income families.

Upon graduating high school, Karen moved to Los Angeles, California, where she met her husband Robert L. Conklin (deceased 2012). Karen and Bob had four children together before they followed Bob’s job to Olathe, Kansas and then to Chanute, Kansas. In Chanute, they took on a 40-acre farm where they learned to handle horses, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, wheat/soybean fields, fruit and nut trees, and various gardens. Many people will remember fondly various church and school parties hosted at the farm, which might have included a hay rack ride or bobbing for apples in the barn. Others will remember Karen’s strawberry waffle tradition when the kids had sleepovers.

While tending the farm and raising kids, Karen completed multiple degrees at Pittsburg State University and took a part-time job teaching at Labette Community College.

In 1986, she and her daughter moved back to Olathe, and Karen began what would become a full career in Institutional Research at Johnson County Community College. She particularly enjoyed traveling for work and speaking at conferences.

Karen lived simply and humbly while soaking up as much of life as she could. She was a life-long learner, which included things like graduating from the Citizen’s Police Academy and taking creative writing classes, line dancing lessons and adult piano lessons. She was able to explore many parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, China and South America. At home, she enjoyed reading books, taking walks, writing letters and playing cards. She earned a Life Master in bridge and continued to play weekly until her final days.

Karen’s faith was always central to her life. Her trip to the Holy Land was one of her most special experiences. She enjoyed serving as Eucharistic minister and singing in church choirs, including St. Joseph and Good Shepherd.

She was fiercely loyal and loved unconditionally. She will be missed by many.

Karen is survived by three of her children: Chris Conklin, Tom Conklin (Carla) and Lorianne Hanson (Greg). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Bryan Conklin (Sally), Holli McLaughlin (Mike), Jake Conklin, Josh Conklin, Lisa Clay (Garrett), Georgia Conklin, Cooper Conklin (Vegas), Helena Hanson and Katie Hanson, as well as three great-grandchildren: Alexis Conklin, Charlotte Ellison and Xander Conklin.

Karen was preceded in death by her son Marc Conklin (Jill), her sisters Pat Zanotelli and Bev Thomas, and her parents Charles and Grace Thomas.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 12800 W. 75th St. Shawnee, KS 66216, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m.