Karen Renee Kinner

On Thursday, August 12, 2021, Karen died surrounded by her family. She was born Patricia Lee Rivers on March 19, 1952 in Eureka, California to Barbara Jean Bednar and Raymond Damus Rivers. As an infant, she was adopted by Lola Thornburg and Floyd Richards of Fresno, California. At age one, they brought her to Red Bluff where she grew up on their family ranch. Her name was changed to Karen Renee Richards and she was never able to meet her birth parents.

Karen attended Lincoln Street School, Jackson Heights School, Vista School and Bidwell Junior High. She graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1970. She was honored as “Girl of the Year” three times and received scholarship awards to help her attend Chico State University. During summers she worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor at the McGlynn Pool.

In 1972, she married David Mark Kinner at Sacred Heart Church in Red Bluff. Karen graduated from Chico State with a degree in Liberal Studies in 1974 and immediately entered the credentialing program. She left student teaching in 1976 to give birth to a son, Brooke David Kinner. Karen returned to the credential program and earned a Learning Handicapped Credential and a Resource Specialist Credential. Later in her career, she was proud to have been chosen as a trainer for California Teachers’ Association Special Education Cadre. She was always seeking out those students who struggled with school and even though she excelled academically, Karen seemed to have an innate understanding of those who “learned differently.”

In 1978, Dave and Karen welcomed their first daughter, Emily Suzanne Kinner. When Brooke and Emily were babies, Karen was active in Crib-Age Club, Red Bluff Coop Nursery School and AAUW. In 1980, Karen began her teaching career working for Shasta College, teaching developmentally disabled adults at Tehama County Opportunity Center.

In 1983, Karen and Dave were blessed with her third child, Melanie Rose Kinner. As a busy young mother and teacher, she was an involved parent at Sacred Heart School.

In 1987, Karen began teaching Special Day Class for Corning School District and in 1989 she began her long career with Red Bluff Elementary School District as a Vista Middle School SDC and Resource teacher for more than 20 years.

In 1995, Karen’s youngest daughter, Melanie Rose died, following a 2 year battle with a rare form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Karen was an active member of Sacred Heart Church as a lector and a choir member. Along with her friend Teri Downey, she co-founded the church blood drive. She was also a Boy Scout Den leader and was active on the Tehama Arts Council for many years. Karen mastered the art of calligraphy, having attended 4 International Calligraphy Conferences throughout the U.S. and was a member of the San Francisco Friends of Calligraphy Guild. Karen and David loved to travel and had visited Maine and other Eastern States, Indonesia, Mexico, Hawaii, and Italy.

Karen will be best remembered as a devoted mother and doting “Grammy”. She was an accomplished seamstress who loved making costumes and clothes for her children and grandchildren. Karen loved to attend her grandchildren’s music recitals, theatre performances, and sports games. She loved to cook dinners and host Scrabble game nights with her family and friends.

Karen was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, David, her beloved daughter, Melanie Rose, and by her parents. Karen and Dave experienced tremendous grief following the death of their daughter and also their brothers Peter, Tom and Mike Kinner, sister in law Peggy Kinner Dawson, and Karen’s lifelong closest friend, Barbara Williams Spangler. Despite numerous losses and personal health issues, Karen and Dave exhibited great strength and commitment to their family.

Karen is survived by her son Brooke Kinner and his wife, Michelle Kinner, of Red Bluff; her daughter Emily Kinner, of Red Bluff; two brothers Michael Bednar Senften of Ukiah and Terry Bednar Bean of Oakland; sister Pamela Lindemann of Forest Ranch; and her sister-in-law and caregiver Robin Lindemann of Chico. She is proud to be survived by her adored grandchildren Jane Kinner, Adam Kinner, and Rose Kinner of Red Bluff. Karen is also survived by her sisters and brothers in law, many nieces and nephews, and friends and colleagues.

A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday, September 15th at 11:00am. A reception will follow the mass at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall on Monroe Street. Masks will be required at the funeral mass and the reception that will follow the service. A private graveside service will be held at a later date where Karen and Dave will be laid to rest beside their daughter Melanie at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Red Bluff.

In lieu of flowers, Karen requests that you donate blood at any convenient blood drive. She also requests that you read to small children daily and show appreciation for their teachers in some small way. Monetary donations may be made in her memory to the Make-a Wish Foundation.