Karen B. Springer

Karen Beth Springer of Danbury, Connecticut (formal resident of Bethel, CT) passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the age of 83 years old. She was born on January 19,1941 in Chicago, IL where she grew up in Nauvoo, a small town in IL.

Karen Konecki graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo, IL on June 1, 1958 and was in the top 10% of her class. She attended the Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, IA on a four-year academic scholarship and graduated with a BME degree in 1962. She attended Southern Methodist University and Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX from 1962-1963 with a full assistantship in Sacred Music. She completed 27 hours of graduate studies. Karen achieved her Masters degree in music (pipe organ, minor in piano and voice) at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD.

Karen was a church musician for about 60 years in Iowa and Connecticut. She was a music school teacher both in private and public schools and taught private piano lessons. She was a Director of Music at a variety of churches including Lutheran, Catholic, Episcopal, Methodist, Congregational, Baptist, and Christian Science. She also taught at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. In addition to music she also was employed at different businesses in Connecticut and retired from Stop and Shop in Ridgefield, CT.

Karen actively attended church at the Bethel United Methodist church where she was a member for many years. She dedicated years of service as a Director of Music at many different churches in Connecticut. She not only planned music each week, but led adult, children and handbell choirs over the years. Music and faith filled her life daily.

Karen loved animals. She worked in a pet store for a short period of time in CT, and had two Amazon parrots she and her ex-husband acquired in Texas before she had children. One parrot named Pepe who lived the longest was her companion for 45 years. She and her children had many pets growing up. Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, chickens, parakeets, fish and even a cat and dog at one point. So much love to share with the animals for years.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Wanda (Smiddy) Konecki, and her stepfather Mike (Marlin) Brackey, her sisters Janie Meyer (Leroy Meyer) and Konnie Saliba (Denis Reid), and father of her children Rev. Phillip Kirby Gull. She is survived by her children, Perryn Gull, Esther (Mike) Maiden, Andrew (Beth) Gull, her grandchildren, Grace Gull, Aidan Gull and Autumn Gull, and her nephews and niece, Steve (Shawn) Meyer, Beth (Brent) Vander Molen, and Tim (Michelle) Meyer.

The family would like to thank the staff and nurses at Havencare at Hancock Hall in Danbury, CT for the care and compassion they showed for Karen Springer. Family and friends are invited to attend an intimate graveside burial service at the Durham Cemetery in Nauvoo, IL. Details will be released at a later date.

Donations in her memory may be made to the following organizations:

Bethel CT United Methodist Church - https://www.bethelmethodist.net/donate

St Thomas Episcopal Church - https://www.stthomasbethel.org/

American Organists Guild - https://www.agohq.org/

Alzheimer association - https://www.alz.org/