Karen Rose Strachan, 76, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday August 12, 2025, at the University of Kansas Health Systems - Great Bend Campus in Great Bend, Kansas.
Karen was born on October 06, 1948, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Virgil Martin and Adelinde Marie (Leikam) Bollig. She grew up in Hays, Kansas, and graduated from Marian High School. She attended Fort Hays State University, majoring in education. She married James Moore in 1973, they later divorced in 1977. She had two children from that union, Martin and Melissa. Karen worked for many years as a secretary for the Hays Area SRS office and helped her father, Virgil, by working at A.S.B. Oil. After leaving the SRS office, Karen worked at local factories in the Hays area such as Adronics-Elrob and Enersys.
She was united in marriage to John W. “Jay” Strachan IV on January 27, 1990, in Hays, Kansas, and became stepmother to Robert and Lori. She later moved to the Russell area in 1996. She worked as a cook/dietary aide at the Russell Regional Hospital for 17 years and was a longtime member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Russell. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, reading books and her dogs. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren’s activities.
Surviving family includes her son Martin Strachan of Russell, Kansas, daughter Melissa Wellbrock and husband John of Victoria, Kansas, stepson Robert Strachan of Hays, Kansas and stepdaughter Lori Riedel of Russell, Kansas; brother Wayne Bollig and wife Connie of Hays, Kansas, sister Donna Brohman of Downs, Kansas; and sister-in-law Kristine Bollig of Hays, Kansas. She has 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, and brother Dennis Bollig.
Cremation was selected by the family. A memorial service to celebrate Karen’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell, Kansas. A reception in the church fellowship hall will immediately follow the church memorial service. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the mortuary with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Monday evening. Memorials may be given to the Karen Strachan Memorial Fund and sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary 610 N. Maple St. Russell, Kansas 67665 who is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.