Karen Sue Vanhoose was all too soon taken from this world on Tuesday,
November 23, 2021, at the age of 71 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was
born on July 8, 1950, in Plainville, Kansas to Eldon and Gola (Brokaw)
Williams. She was united in marriage to David Stahl in 1968 and the
couple was blessed with two children: Cory and Brett. They later
divorced and she was united in marriage to Orvil Vanhoose on June 10,
1995 in Plainville. Through this marriage, Karen gained four step-
children; Chuck, Dan, Nikki, and Joel.
Karen grew up in Rooks County where she attended Plainville High
School and graduated with the class of 1968. Following high school, she
pursued a nursing degree through Emporia State University. Karen then
moved to Kansas City where she pursued a career as an airline
stewardess, then moved back to Plainville to work as a nurse assistant
for the Eddy Clinic in Hays and then Plainville Hospital. The family
relocated to Great Bend in the early ‘80s where she began working in
banking and real estate. Karen and Orvil moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
in 1995 where they traveled all over the country for Orvil’s Express
Freight Service. She loved to travel and many memories were made on
those trips. In 2002 they moved back to Plainville and she went to work
for First National Bank, later known as Astra Bank. Karen retired in
2016 and continued part-time work for Effin’ Bits.
Karen was known for her love of life, her spit-fire personality and a
genuine and honest way about her. She was crafty, loved to crochet
things for family, was an avid reader and loved to play the slot
machines. Karen’s bright personality and “call it like it is” style will
be remembered and cherished for the generations she leaves behind.
She leaves behind her husband, Orvil Vanhoose of the home in
Plainville; children, Cory (Christy) Stahl of Plainville, Brett Stahl
(Michelle Hammerschmidt) of Plainville; step-children, Chuck (Brenda)
Mader of Pensacola, FL, Dan (Heather) Mader of Lafayette, IN, Nikki
(Jason) Rivers of Driftwood, TX, and Joel (Sheila) Vanhoose of
Brushcreek, TN; and eleven grandchildren.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Eldon and Gola Williams; and brother, Terry Williams.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, December 10th at the
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Plainville from 9AM until 8PM. There
will be no services.
Memorials are suggested to the Plainville Public Library and may be
sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd St.,
Plainville, KS 67663.