Obit: Tomczak, Karen N. (1943 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Anderson, Ashley, Bunker, Hannan, Kastner, Prorok, Rollins, Tomczak

----Source: The Nash-Jackan Funeral Home (Ladysmith, WI) 5/13/2018

Tomczak, Karen N. (Hannan) Rollins (7 JUN 1943 - 9 MAY 2018)

Karen N. Tomczak, 74, of Weyerhaeuser, died Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire.

She is survived by her husband Louis, 3 children: Kristi Tomczak of Perth, Australia, Shari & Jason Prorok of Weyerhaeuser, Jeffrey of New Brighton, MN, 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Karen is also survived by her mother Doris Hannan of San Dimas, CA and her sister Pamela Anderson of Alice Springs, Australia.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 11:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. at the Weyerhaeuser VFW Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Karen's name may be directed to the Shriner's organization.

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----Source: The Ladysmith News (Ladysmith, WI)

Karen Tomczak, 74, of Weyerhaeuser, died Wednesday, May 9, 2018 at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire.

Karen Noreen Hannan was born on June 7, 1943, in Hutchinson, Kan., to Clarence and Doris (Anderson) Hannan. She lived in Osaka, Japan, for several months in 1947 during the Japanese occupation. Her family moved from Hutchinson to Pomona, Calif., in May of 1951. She attended Ganesha High School in Pomona, where she was nicknamed “Prim” by her schoolmates. She was active in choir and music while in high school and graduated in 1961.

Karen married Mark Rollins on March 24, 1962, in California. They were married for three years. She married Louis Tomczak on March 25, 1967, in St. Paul, Minn. They resided in northeast Minneapolis from 1965 to 1973, when they relocated to Weyerhaeuser.

She was employed in a number of different areas throughout her life. In California, she was a nylon stocking maker at the Burlington Hosiery Factory of Pomona and a phone operator at the Pomona Progress Bulletin newspaper. In Minnesota, she worked for a fiberglass boat manufacturer in Minneapolis and was an administrative assistant at an office in Plymouth. After moving to Weyerhaeuser, she was employed at Dorcia’s Pizza, Petrolane, and Jerome Foods.

In 1991, Karen graduated with a degree in criminal justice from Mount Senario College of Ladysmith. She was a recipient of the Who’s Who Among Students award for her academic standing and leadership. After graduation, she was employed as a probation and parole officer for the State of Wisconsin.

Karen served on the Indianhead Community Action Agency through its Head Start Program for three years and was a member of the VFW Post 5780 Ladies Auxiliary for almost 42 years.
Karen enjoyed singing, playing piano, snowmobiling, bowling, reading romance novels and socializing with friends in her younger days. Later, she enjoyed bingo, crossword puzzles, watching TV and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved to cook and learned many Polish recipes from her mother-in-law, Julia Tomczak. She was known for her sense of humor and people loved her laugh.

She is survived by her husband, Louis of Weyerhaeuser; her mother, Doris Hannan of San Dimas, Calif.; her daughters, Kristi of Perth, Australia and Shari (Jason) Prorok of Weyerhaeuser; her son, Jeff of New Brighton, Minn.; her sister, Pamela Anderson of Alice Springs, Australia; five grandchildren, Matthew Kastner, Tiffani and Colton Ashley, and Paul and Lacie Prorok; her great-grandchildren, Jaxon Bunker and Alaric Kastner; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clarence Hannan, in 2009; and her twin sisters, Ann and Noreen Hannan, in 1949.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the VFW Hall in Weyerhaeuser on Wednesday, May 16, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Burial will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Karen's name may be directed to The Shriners.

Nash-Jackan Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.