Karen Arlene Hoening, age 74, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in San Antonio, TX. Karen was born on August 28, 1951, to parents John E. McKinney and Clara E. Long in Piqua, Ohio, where she was raised through age 13. She then moved to the countryside nearby where she resided through high school, graduating from Miami East in the class of 1969. Karen went on to attend Wright State University for 3 years before transitioning to life as an Air Force wife, which took her on a 25-year journey to California, Florida, South Korea, California again, Germany, Virginia, Idaho, Washington DC, back to California, and finally to San Antonio, where she resided for her final 33 years. In San Antonio, Karen completed her degree in Business Administration at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) in 2003 and worked as a Special Education Instructor from 1993-2003, an Assistant to the Transportation Director from 2003-2011, and Substitute Teacher from 2011-2023, totaling 30 years before retirement from the North East Independent School District.
Karen was always full of positive energy and had a wonderful smile and laugh. She loved to explore new things, whether that was traveling through Europe, taking her children and grandchildren to Sea World, Disney World (or Disneyland), Six Flags, and the zoo, or driving up to Fredericksburg, TX. Karen built relationships everywhere she traveled and was loved by both her family and friends that she developed throughout her personal and professional life. She also loved the Christmas holiday season, evidenced by the number of Santas that appeared around the house each year (well over 100).
She was preceded in death by her parents. Karen is survived by her husband, Donald D. Hoening; her children, Nathan (Lisa), Jeff (Christine), and Adam (Noelle); her grandchildren, Julia, Holden, Austin (Leilani), Brooklyn, Carmen, Huston, Emma, Dayton, Coco, and Chloe; her great-grandchild, Luka Coleman; and her brother, John (Bev) McKinney.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
Pastor Sean Metcalf of Community Bible Church to officiate.
Internment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Special Olympics of Texas (https://support.specialolympics.org), Lewy Body Dementia Association (http://lbda.org), or The Michael J Fox Foundation (http://give.michaeljfox.org).
