October 2, 1971 – January 18, 2023
Georgianna Leilani Karppi, age 51, of Killeen, Texas was born in 1971 in Stuttgart, Germany to Friday and Pannee Roldan. Her friends and family called her Georgie. She spent her childhood in Okinawa, Japan and Killeen, Texas. After graduating from Hanau American High School in Hanau, Germany in 1989, Georgie moved to Waco, Texas to attend Baylor University. While at Baylor, she met Daniel Gerard Karppi, and they were married on November 4th, 1995 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Killeen, Texas. Daniel and Georgie lived a happy, quiet life together in Killeen for twenty-seven years.
Her favorite hobbies always involved creating special arts and crafts that allowed her to bring happiness to the lives of others. In high school she served as editor of the high school yearbook. Later in life, she enjoyed scrapbooking, knitting, and crocheting. Gifting handmade blankets to her friends and family brought her much joy and happiness.
Georgie loved to travel. In recent years, she and Daniel traveled to New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Central America, Mexico, and Alaska. Visiting museums and historic landmarks was always on the itinerary. She especially liked her visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. These visits inspired her to take an art history class at Central Texas College in Killeen.
Georgie also had a rewarding career. In 1997 she earned her MBA from the University of Central Texas. Although she worked for many institutions, she was most proud of her work at Central Texas College. She considered her co-workers to be her extended family. Her twelve-year career as the coordinator of degree audit allowed her to help students reach their educational goals. She felt blessed to be a part of such a noble endeavor.
Her family brought her the most joy. Weekend and holiday visits with her mother, stepfather, and youngest brother lasted for hours, especially when her mother made a home-cooked meal. Some of her family lived a long distance from Killeen, but Georgie did all she could to remain present in their lives. Her relationships with her sister in Georgia and brother in San Antonio remained strong. Likewise, her trips to Minnesota to visit her extended family were always special. Seeing snow at Christmas and having the opportunity to visit her many nieces and nephews created wonderful memories.
She is preceded in death by her father, Friday Roldan; father-in-law, Marvin Karppi; and stepfather-in-law, Gary Burns.
Georgie is survived by her husband Daniel Karppi; mother, Pannee Strause; stepfather William Strause; mother-in-law, Ruth Burns; sister, Geraldine Martyn (Thomas); brothers, Nolbert Roldan (Sarabeth) and Robert Strause; sister-in-law, Mary Cyr (Edward); nieces, Brittany Flynn (Jameson), Cyan Martyn (fiancé Parker Gore), Olivia FitzPatrick (Adam), Molly Cyr, Teagan Cyr; nephews, Chase Martyn, Ethan Cyr (Kyra) and Patrick Cyr.
A Visitation will be held Friday, January 27 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 28 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Killeen.
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