Karen Pokorny

1965 - 2025

Karen Pokorny

November 17, 1965 - March 5, 2025

Karen Kay Pokorny, 59, of Omaha, Neb., passed away on March 5, 2025 surrounded by her family. As her family journeyed with her, Karen privately battled stage four cancer for three and a half years. Karen was born on November 17, 1965 in Columbus to Bert and Lenore Nosal Pokorny. She attended St. Isidore Elementary School and Scotus Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1983. She graduated from Kearney State College in 1987 with a bachelor's degree. Karen enjoyed theatre, Broadway, and music concerts, with the Eagles as her favorite band. Recently, she was able to attend her sixth Eagles concert, the Long Goodbye tour, with her sisters at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Most of all, Karen loved being with her large family of siblings, nieces, and nephews. She was truly a "super aunt", treating each and every one of her nieces and nephews as if they were the most important person around. Her nieces and nephews continued to give her goals to reach for during her battle, including marriages, graduations, and arrivals of great nieces and nephews, the most recent great-niece arriving only six days before her passing. She was a wonderful godmother to her sister, Colleen, nephews, Branden and Micah, and niece, Taylor. She excelled at her profession and her career as a national bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. She retired in February, 2022, having worked out of offices in Omaha and San Francisco for 35 years. Karen's work often took her to New York City, where her love of Broadway sparked. She especially enjoyed Wicked, Jersey Boys, Phantom of the Opera, and Rent. Her job also took her to all parts of the US and to London, England. Because of this, her knowledge of the British royal family and all things Princess Diana was exceptional. Although she was not particularly a Major League Baseball fan, she was proud of attending ball games in almost all of the MLB ballparks. Karen is survived by her mom, Lenore of Omaha; brother, Chris of Waverly; sisters, Kim (Bart) Cline of Lenox, Iowa, Kelly (Jason) Gibson of Omaha, and Colleen (Eric) Spies of Omaha; 10 nieces and nephews, and 10 great nieces and nephews: Kyle (Kath) Pokorny (Brody and Abby), Amy Pokorny, Branden (Rachel) Cline (Chesney, Fallon, and Monroe), Cody (Katin) Cline (Bo and Keller), Carson (Alyssa) Cline (Waylon and Colter), Allie (Carter) Still (Harper), Taylor Gibson, Trevor (Abbi) Gibson, Ava Spies, and Micah Spies. She is preceded in death by her dad, Bert, her grandparents, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhorn, Neb. A wake service will be on Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m., with visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a private family burial at All Saints Cemetery in Columbus, Neb. Take it easy, Karen; you now have a peaceful, easy feeling. We love and miss you dearly.