Karen Sue Weber

Karen Sue (Williams) Weber, 82, a resident of Burlington, Colorado and Goodland, Kansas, passed away on November 17, 2023 in Lakewood, Colorado.  Karen was born to Ralph Waldo and Catherine Elizabeth (Reding) Williams in Shawnee, Oklahoma on June 25, 1941 (the perfect birthday).  Karen grew up in Shawnee with her older brother Robert (Bob) Eugene and graduated from Shawnee High school in 1959.  She then attended East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma where she obtained her Bachelors and Masters degrees in 1963 and 1964.  It was during this time that she met Ronald Leslie Weber, to whom she was married on June 28^th, 1964.  Karen and Ron raised two children, Susan Kayleen (Weber) Fields (Tom) and Dwight Scott Weber to be the successful adults they are.  She was also an aunt to 3 nephews Steve, Doug, and Scott and 4 nieces Debra, Beth, Kati, and Dena.  After Ron died in 1988, Karen continued raising Susan and Scott.  She was honored to be a Granny to three grandsons, Ronald James, David William, and Peter Michael Fields.  She was also an honorary Granny to Susan’s niece Alex and three nephews Calvin, Ethan, and Robby.  She was always invited to Fields family gatherings and included in family portraits.  She said that Tom’s mom, Jean, was like the sister she never had.

Karen was raised in the Disciples of Christ Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  While in Shawnee, she was a member of the youth group and a Chi Ro Camp Counselor.  Ultimately, she transferred her membership to the First Christian Church in Burlington – which is also a Disciples of Christ congregation.  She served on the board for over 20 years and was the treasurer for part of that time.  She remained a member there until her death.

As a young girl, Karen was active in Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, Horizon Club, and Camp leadership for these programs.  She also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and camping with her family.

During her time at East Central State College, Karen received many honors, including a School Spirit Award while she was the president of the Pep Club.  This award usually went to a cheer leader.  She was also a member of the Calendar Court and a Campus Religious Leader.

Karen was a lifelong member of the National Education association (NEA), beginning with its student branch during her sophomore year of high school.  She was elected multiple times to represent the Colorado Education Association at the NEA conventions.  She served on a Blue-Ribbon Committee at the state level and was a member of the Resolutions committee at both the state and national levels.

Karen began her teaching career at an elementary school in Jefferson County, Colorado in the fall of 1963.  After teaching there for one year, she moved to Walsh, Colorado where Ron was already teaching.  She taught Junior High and High School math there.  In 1967, they moved to Burlington, where Karen continued teaching Junior High and High School math.  She moved to the Middle School where she taught 5^th and 6^th grade math, 6^th grade Math/Science, Middle School Chapter 1 Math and English, and 7^th and 8^th grade Computer Science.  While teaching full time at Burlington Middle School, she also taught Literature, English, Math, and Sociology for Morgan Community College, Regis Community College, and Denver University remote campuses in Burlington.

Karen was certified to teach almost anything in Colorado, including Library Science.  She received a Computer Grant from Denver University which she used to help the students in Burlington.  She brought robots to the classroom in their early days, starting with the LEGO/LOGO robots.  Karen was also a member of the Colorado Council of Mathematics Teachers and the East Central UniServ.  She retired from teaching in May of 1999 after a 36 year career.

While living in Burlington, she was a member and local President of the Quo Vadis Club.  She and Ron were also active members of the Wagon Wheelers Square Dancing Club.  Karen was quite the entrepreneur with Ron.  While in Burlington, they became pioneers in the self-storage business when they built “The Attic”.  Several years later, they were approached and asked to build another Attic in Goodland.  When asked where the name came from, she often replied that that was where everyone stored the stuff they wanted to keep, but didn’t need in their living space.  Several years after that, they also built K&R Wash, a four-bay Car Wash in Burlington.  When asked how she got top billing on this name, she replied that RaK didn’t spell car.  These businesses led to a membership in both the Burlington and Goodland Chambers of Commerce.

Throughout her years in Burlington and Goodland, Karen was very active, behind the scenes, in politics.  Karen and Ron hosted caucuses at their home.  She was a Precinct Committee Lady in both Kit Carson and Sherman Counties.  In the 1990s, Karen was part of the Planning and Development Committee for the Outback Playground in Burlington.

In 1982, Karen and Ron purchased Mid America Camp Inn in Goodland, Kansas and Karen continued teaching while working at the campground.  For many years there was also an Ice Business associated with the campground.  Karen continued to own and operate the campground until her death.  As a leader in the tourism industry, Karen became the president of the Kansas Campground Owners Association Board.  She also held national positions at various points in time.  She was an active member in the Northwest Kansas Travel Council, playing a key role in the creation of the Land & Sky Byway that runs through Goodland and Sherman County.  This is the only byway in the state that focuses on agriculture.

Karen also enjoyed traveling, as a child with her parents to many parts of the US; with her husband to Europe three times; with her husband and children throughout the US; by herself in her travel trailer to multiple corners of the US; with Susan and her family on several Bahamian and Caribbean cruises, and countless trips to visit family.

Karen enjoyed researching her genealogy, tracing several lines back to the Mayflower.  She was able to compile these records in a database she designed and shared with her family.

Karen was a nationally recognized GeoCacher.  She logged over 3,100 finds and had 14 hides to her name.  She introduced many to the sport and received over 600 “Favorite” points.  As a result of her many finds and Favorites received, she was allowed to place a rare virtual cache.

Karen was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, brother, and one nephew.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Susan Fields (Tom) of Creve Coeur, Missouri; grandsons Ronny of Madison, Wisconsin and David and Peter of Creve Coeur, Missouri; and son Scott Weber of Kremmling, Colorado.

Memorial contributions may be designated to The Kit Carson County Carousel in Burlington, Colorado; Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado; or The World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons Russell, 211 North Main Avenue, Goodland, Kansas 67735.