Karen J. Dehner

Karen Jean Purdy Dehner was born on November 28, 1939 in LaHarpe, Illinois to Ernest and Eileen Purdy. She passed away in Omaha, NE on Sunday December 12, 2021 at Lakeside Hospital surrounded by her husband and many family members.

On October 3, 1959 she was united in marriage to Thomas Dehner at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church in Burlington, Iowa. After their marriage they moved to Davenport, Iowa while Thomas completed his senior year of college at St. Ambrose University. After several moves, they settled in Omaha in 1971 living for decades in the Dundee area. After their family was raised, they moved to Whispering Hollow at The Ridges.



Their marriage resulted in the birth of five daughters and two sons. Deborah Dehner Foss, Julia Dehner Mack, John Thomas Dehner, Katherine Dehner Negrete, Angela Dehner Crouch, Thomas Mathew Dehner, and Alicia Dehner Kine. In addition, Thomas and Karen have 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.



Karen fought a long and courageous battle with both breast cancer and a very rare cancer of the appendix (pseudomyxoma peritonei). which required several long and complicated surgeries.



Daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend – a true matriarch of her family. Karen was a kind, caring and generous person to a fault. Never selfish, worrying about everyone but herself. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary or a card to a sick friend. Christmas and holidays were a very special time for Karen. She was never as happy as when she had her whole family with at her house for holidays. She was very proud in the hospital that she handed out Christmas cards to all of the children and grandchildren. Even in extreme sickness, she was thinking of everyone but herself, she said from her hospital bed, “I pulled off Christmas.” Yes, she sure managed to do that.



She was loved by both family and friends. She was the exemplary entertainer with her decorating and party planning done with perfection. Everything had to be “just so” and ready for her guests, whether it was family or friends. She especially enjoyed various card games, including playing bridge, bunco, pitch, hand and foot, along with book club and various social events. She thrived when getting ready to host events and set the bar high.



She is survived by her husband of 62 years, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her sister Janice along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Anthony Purdy and grandchild Ashley Foss.



We wish to express our deep gratitude to the nurses, doctors and the entire staff at Lakeside Hospital for the loving care, compassion and dignity she received during her final days. We would also like to thank Father Don Shane who brought her and our family so much comfort and peace during her final days.

She will be missed by all who knew her, family, friends, and co-workers. She had such a great impact on so many lives.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church. A celebration of Karen's life will be held at a later date.



VISITATION: Friday December 17th, at the Pacific Street Chapel beginning at 6:00PM with a WAKE SERVICE at 7:00 PM.



Memorial Mass: Saturday Dec. 18th at St. Robert Bellarmine at 10:00 AM. Inurnment, Omaha National Cemetery.



IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: Memorials to Stephen Center











JOHN A. GENTLEMAN MORTUARIES AND CREMATORY

PACIFIC STREET CHAPEL

14151 Pacific Street 402-391-1664 www.johnagentleman.com