1953-2025
Karen Maria Nelson June 19, 1953-November 3, 2025
Karen Maria Nelson died at home in rural Wilson County on November 3, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Karen was born Karen Maria Nelson on June 19, 1953, to Kenneth Herbert Nelson and Betty Louise Doores Nelson in Chanute, Kansas.
Karen graduated from Altoona-Midway High School in 1971. She received an AA from Neosho County Community College, a BS in journalism from the University of Kansas and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction: TESOL from the University of Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father and nephew, Kevin Nelson.
Karen is survived by her siblings Christine (Rocky) Swiger, Florida; Charles (Karen’s twin), Lawrence, Kansas; Beth (Dan) Clarke, Toronto, Kansas; nephews, Nathan Clarke and Kenneth Nelson; niece, Kristen (Alec) Philip, Wamego, Kansas; and great-nephew, Evan Scott Philip, Wamego, Kansas.
Karen began her professional career as a paralegal VISTA volunteer in Grand Island, Nebraska. Her Peace Corps career began in 1978 as a recruiter in Kansas City, then she was off to Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer two years later. Karen’s wide range of skills took her to Latin America: Guatemala, Belize, Ecuador, El Salvador; Africa: Senegal, Niger, Mauritania; Asia: China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Armenia; and Eastern Europe: Moldova. She also consulted for the USAID, (US State Dept., Peace Corps) while in Nicaragua and Iraq.
As part of her training Karen learned to speak French, Wolof, Spanish and Romanian.
After the Peace Corps, Karen came back to Kansas to accept a job at Pittsburg State University, beginning as a lecturer in the university’s intensive English program and retiring in 2019 as the Acting Director of that same program.
Karen spent more than 40 years traveling the world, spreading knowledge and enabling others to do the same by: teaching resource management; teaching essential language skills; training people to adapt to new cultures so they could help others; and reaching across the barriers of language and culture to make a difference.
Karen always valued her rural background, which she said served her well in adapting to developing countries. Especially valuable, she wrote, were the life skills of problem solving, resilience and taking responsibility.
Karen traveled the world but came back to her roots after her retirement. She believed, “There’s no place like home.” Karen will be missed by family and friends across the globe.
A Celebration of Life will be held November 21st at 1:00 PM.
Location: The Turn at Stone Creek Restaurant, 511 South Country Club Road, Chanute, KS 66720
Parking and entrance on the South side of the building.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home.
Karen Maria Nelson died at home in rural Wilson County on November 3, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Karen was born Karen Maria Nelson on June 19, 1953, to Kenneth Herbert Nelson and Betty Louise Doores Nelson in Chanute, Kansas.
Karen graduated from Altoona-Midway High School in 1971. She received an AA from Neosho County Community College, a BS in journalism from the University of Kansas and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction: TESOL from the University of Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her mother, father and nephew, Kevin Nelson.
Karen is survived by her siblings Christine (Rocky) Swiger, Florida; Charles (Karen’s twin), Lawrence, Kansas; Beth (Dan) Clarke, Toronto, Kansas; nephews, Nathan Clarke and Kenneth Nelson; niece, Kristen (Alec) Philip, Wamego, Kansas; and great-nephew, Evan Scott Philip, Wamego, Kansas.
Karen began her professional career as a paralegal VISTA volunteer in Grand Island, Nebraska. Her Peace Corps career began in 1978 as a recruiter in Kansas City, then she was off to Senegal as a Peace Corps Volunteer two years later. Karen’s wide range of skills took her to Latin America: Guatemala, Belize, Ecuador, El Salvador; Africa: Senegal, Niger, Mauritania; Asia: China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Armenia; and Eastern Europe: Moldova. She also consulted for the USAID, (US State Dept., Peace Corps) while in Nicaragua and Iraq.
As part of her training Karen learned to speak French, Wolof, Spanish and Romanian.
After the Peace Corps, Karen came back to Kansas to accept a job at Pittsburg State University, beginning as a lecturer in the university’s intensive English program and retiring in 2019 as the Acting Director of that same program.
Karen spent more than 40 years traveling the world, spreading knowledge and enabling others to do the same by: teaching resource management; teaching essential language skills; training people to adapt to new cultures so they could help others; and reaching across the barriers of language and culture to make a difference.
Karen always valued her rural background, which she said served her well in adapting to developing countries. Especially valuable, she wrote, were the life skills of problem solving, resilience and taking responsibility.
Karen traveled the world but came back to her roots after her retirement. She believed, “There’s no place like home.” Karen will be missed by family and friends across the globe.
A Celebration of Life will be held November 21st at 1:00 PM.
Location: The Turn at Stone Creek Restaurant, 511 South Country Club Road, Chanute, KS 66720
Parking and entrance on the South side of the building.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Karen Maria Nelson please visit our Sympathy Store.
Funeral Home in Charge
COUNTRYSIDE FUNERAL HOME – JOHNSON CHAPEL
101 N. Highland
Chanute, KS 66720
101 N. Highland
Chanute, KS 66720
