Karen Joy Kamerrer

Karen Joy Kamerrer was born March 23, 1951 in Hermiston, Oregon to Arnold and Marjorie Weber. She passed away at home in the arms of her husband and daughters on October 3, 2021. Karen’s early years were marked by life in a small town on a small farm, with horses, cows, chickens, pets, gardens and crops, and her loving parents, brother and friends.

Karen graduated in 1969 from Hermiston High School, and attended Pacific Lutheran University, graduating with an Education degree in 1973. She and Dale met as Band students in 1968. They were married on June 16, 1973, and Karen was hired by the Olympia School District that year. She taught seventh grade language arts, social studies, and drama at Jefferson Junior High School (later Middle School), and retired in 2006. Karen instilled academics in her students, but appreciated that they needed to learn who they could become. She was tolerant of mistakes they made along the way. She was known for her beautiful cursive writing.

Karen and Dale were blessed with two daughters, Julie and Laurie. She is survived by Dale, daughters Julie Carignan (Jon) and Laurie Greenler (Tim), grandchildren Casey and Piper Carignan, brother Vern Weber (Trisha), sisters-in-law Cathie Starkey (Jedd) and Karen Kemp, five nephews and nieces, and numerous cousins. Karen was looking forward to the birth of her third grandchild in early 2022.

Karen was thrilled to provide first-year day care for Casey and Piper, forming a close and loving bond with them that led to a single designation for where she and Papa live: “Grandma’s House.”

Karen enjoyed theater, art, music, literature, travel, home, the beach and the mountains. She traveled several times to Europe, Mexico and Hawaii, and to Washington D.C., Arizona, Florida, and through the Caribbean. Further travels were planned, but not to be, due to COVID and then pancreatic cancer.

Karen was a life-long Christian and Lutheran. She believed in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and assuredly is with Him now in Heaven.