Karen Louise Knowles Ginsel

Karen Louise (Knowles) Ginsel passed from this earth and went to be with God on July 7, 2014 at the age of 73. Karen Vezeau was born in Galt, Ontario, Canada on March 8, 1941 to Adelarde and Margaret Vezeau. She married in 1961, becoming Karen Knowles and gave birth later that year to her first children: twins, David and Donald. Approximately six years later, she gave birth to her daughter, Gloria. Karen lived with her family in southern Ontario as a dedicated working mother and wife until 1978 when the family moved to Austin, Texas. After her divorce in 1983 she met Don Ginsel who swept her off her feet with his southern charm and warm heart. They enjoyed all the same music and loved to go dancing together. Don had a son Aaron, and a daughter Courtney. After a brief courtship they were married on April 7, 1984 and remained happily married ever since, having just celebrated their 30th anniversary this year.

All who knew Karen knew how she loved Christmas--seriously LOVED Christmas! She didn’t just decorate the outside of the house, but literally every square inch of the inside of the house: ceilings, walls, windows, lamps, mantles, pictures, even the bathrooms—and over 100??? different stuffed animals that sang, moved, danced, jumped, rolled or something. People came to tour the house each year and she actually won various awards. It was an incredible amount of work, requiring her sister Gloria and brother Jack to visit from Canada every year to help with the process, but it brought her the greatest amount of joy. In addition, she adored her four cats, loved to bake, read, and sew. She was a laundry “queen”, knowing how to get out any stain and she had every handy household hint at the tip of her tongue in a pinch. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who was always there when anyone needed guidance, advice or just a silly question answered.

Karen graduated from Galt Collegiate Institute in Canada majoring in Accounting. She worked for several different companies over her very long career in that field. She was a smart, intelligent woman and highly knowledgeable in her area of expertise that resulted in many seeking out her professional advice and experience.

She is preceded in death by her mother Margaret Gibson. She is survived in death by her husband, Don Ginsel; her sons David (Karen) Knowles and Donald (Laura) Knowles with grandson Dallas; her daughter Gloria (Jim) McManus; her stepson Aaron (Lynelle) Ginsel with grandchildren Chelsea and Michael; her stepdaughter Courtney Ginsel with grandsons David, Justin and Braxton. She is also survived by her brother Jack Vezeau (Jackie) with nephew Rick Vezeau and niece Bonnie Vezeau, her brother Sam (Margaret) Vezeau with nephews Del, Paul and Jake Vezeau; her sister Gloria; and her aunt Muriel Smith.

Services will be held on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 10:00 am at Cook Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 N IH 35, Pflugerville, TX 78660 and officiated by her brother Sam Vezeau.

Please visit Karen’s memorial page at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.