Karen Lou Kremer

Karen Lou (Holka) Kremer, Born December 20, 1950, in Elmwood, NE passed away peacefully on July 21, 2023, with her family by her side. Karen was the oldest sibling in her family and was raised around Elmwood, Eagle, Raymond, and Malcolm. Karen attended Crounse District 47 County School K-5, then Malcolm Public Schools, graduating High School in 1969. Karen went on to college at UNL, where she graduated with a teaching degree in 1973. Karen taught school for a total of 38 years, retiring from Milford Public Schools where she taught for 35 years and served as a 1st grade teacher most of the time. Karen loved the challenges of being a teacher and especially loved teaching children to read, noting her favorite students to teach were usually the ornery ones!

Karen married Virgil Kremer on April 8th, 1977, and officially became a farm wife, too. Elisha and Luke were added to their family. Karen really enjoyed going to their school events and was an avid supporter of her nieces and nephews too. She was just so proud of all of them! Being married and having her children were the best days of Karen’s life. And then came her son-in-law, Loren, daughter- in- law, Stef and Karen’s grandchildren, Aliana, Jaxon, and Hank. Once a teacher, always a teacher and a lifetime lover of books (just ask George, the Milford librarian!) Karen would go on to build bonds with her grandchildren by sharing her love of reading with them.

Karen made many friends over the years and maintained friendships with her Crounse school mates, high school friends, buddies from college, teaching partners, neighbors, and United Methodist Church family. Karen deeply valued her relationships and was quick to say that she felt rich in both friendships and support.

Described as strong as steel, Karen leaves this world a better place, after a 13-year battle with cancer. She is preceded in death by parents, Charles and Donna Holka and in-laws, LaVern and Ruth Kremer. Karen is survived by her husband, Virgil Kremer; daughter, Elisha (Loren) Sites; Son, Lucas (Stef) Kremer; grandchildren Aliana, Jaxon and Hank; brothers, Alan and Brian Holka; in-laws Larry (Ila) Kremer, Kenneth (Dorothy) Kremer, John (Marge) Kremer, David (Patsy) Kremer, many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 1:30 pm at the United Methodist Church, Milford, NE.

Clicking on the link below the Celebration of Life Service will bring you to the Livestream for the Service. The Livestream will be starting 10 minutes prior to the Celebration of Life Service. 

There will be a private family inurnment at a later date, at the Blue Mound Cemetery in Milford, NE.

Memorials can be made to the Milford Public Schools Foundation-Karen Kremer and to the family for future designation.

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