Karen Marie Rowe

Karen Marie Heckman was born on March 12, 1944 to parents Harold and Mary Ann (Maas) Heckman in Norfolk, NE. She grew up on a farm in Madison County Nebraska, and attended a one room schoolhouse through the 8th grade. She graduated from Norfolk High School in 1961. In 1962 she graduated from Norfolk Junior College and was employed by the United States Civil Service at Offutt Air Force Base. She later accepted an assignment in West Germany where she met her husband Dan who was stationed there with the United States Air Force. While in Europe she traveled to Greece, Israel, Egypt, and West Berlin. She married Dan on August 15th, 1967, at Wiesbaden AFB in West Germany. Together they traveled throughout West Germany and across Europe including France, Spain, Monaco, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and England.

Upon return to the United States in 1969 she resigned from Civil Service to start a family. Twins, Michael and Curtis were born in 1970, Marcus in 1972, and Bryan in 1976. She felt that it was very important to be a stay-at-home Mom. Her homemaking skills were often challenged but she always excelled. Of all of her accomplishments, she was most proud of being a wonderful Mom to her four boys and a terrific Grandma to her eight grandchildren.

Karen loved music and singing and shared that love with her children and grandchildren. Her favorite hobbies included gardening, quilting, and family genealogy research. She loved holidays and spending time with her family. She always had a camera in hand and was excellent at capturing memories, a benefit to her family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harold Heckman; and her niece, Shari Erychleb.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years Daniel A. Rowe; her 99 year old mother Mary Ann Heckman (Norfolk, NE); her sister Sandra Heckman (San Jose, CA); her brother Randy Heckman (San Jose, CA); and four sons Michael Rowe and his wife Pamela (Lincoln, NE), Curtis Rowe and his wife Shalean (Highlands Ranch, CO), Marcus Rowe (Bellevue, NE), and Bryan Rowe (Papillion, NE). She is also survived by eight grandchildren Amanda, Emily, Danica, Olivia, Connor, Logan, Layla, and Landon.

Private family services will be held at Trinity Church in Papillion followed by burial at Omaha National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research at https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/donate/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.KahlerDolceMortuary.com for the Rowe family.