Karen Maass Nielsen

Karen Maass Nielsen was born October 6, 1955 in Spokane, WA. She unexpectedly passed away August 6, 2024 at age 68 at her home in Liberty Lake, WA. She graduated from Shadle Park High School in 1974, and later from Eastern Washington University where she earned a BA in Education, teaching English briefly in Kettle Falls, WA.

She returned to EWU to earn a Master’s in Guidance and Counseling. With this training she was able to work in the Education and Information Center in the Spokane Public Library from 1984 until 1995, providing workshops and training in vocational guidance.

During this time she began a personal journey toward improved health and optimal nutrition. She was sickly and was told that her body was a “Cadillac on a Volkswagen diet.” With coaching from her mentor, she was able to turn her health around by providing the fuel and fluids she needed. This ultimately led her to the formation of a business, Lyte Balance, in partnership with Tim Cunningham. Its mission was to provide education, counseling, and products for electrolyte, vitamin and mineral supplements; using the senses of taste and smell to guide one in understanding nutritional needs of their body. They worked together until her retirement in 2021. She remained healthy and strong up until the time of her death.

Karen enjoyed reading and many outdoor recreational pursuits, camper vanlife with wife Jane, and trips with friends. She had a special interest in cycling and volunteered for the Friends of the Centennial Trail from 2008-2014, ultimately becoming the board chair. She loved the community treasure that the Trail represented and found it a respite personally. Since then, she had assisted the Bikeswap in their efforts to make cycling affordable for the Spokane community.

She joined Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ and almost immediately began sharing her leadership skills and community partnership ideals. She led various committees for approximately 10 years before becoming Moderator and helping guide the church through a period of transition. She worked with many organizations that provide services to the downtown Spokane area, including: Tree of Sharing, Volunteers of America/Hope House, Family Promise, Shalom Ministries, Women’s Hearth, Transitions, and Mission Community Outreach. She was respected and loved by everyone she worked with.

Karen is survived by her wife of nearly 10 years, Jane Baker, with whom she finally felt “home.” She is also survived by her brother Carl (Kathleen) Maass, niece Amy Maass and nephew Eric Maass; cousins Elaine (Ken) Baarson, Mary (Tom Gillespie) Van Ness, Marty (Nancy) Maass, Kit (Pete) Jagoda, Micki Steiner, and William Thompson.

A celebration of Karen’s life will be held at Westminster Congregational Church. Karen will surely be missed by all whose lives she touched. In lieu of flowers please donate in her memory to any of the following organizations:

Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ (westminsterucc.org)

River’s Wish Animal Sanctuary (riverswishanimalsanctuary.org), where cousin Kit is providing respite care for animals in need

Friends of the Centennial Trail (spokanecentennialtrail.org)