In Memory Of
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Karen Louise Reinhart VanGilder
Centralia, Kansas
09/14/1944 - 10/27/2023
Karen Louise Reinhart VanGilder, 79, of Centralia, passed away on October 27, 2023, at Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia.
Karen was born on September 14, 1944, in Centralia, to Ellery Lysle and Katheryn Maureen Griffiths Reinhart. She grew up on a farm west of Centralia. She attended a one room schoolhouse northwest of the family farm. She later went on to graduate from Vermillion High School. Upon graduating from high school, she married the love of her life, Jimmie David VanGilder on January 20, 1963.
After marrying, Karen and Jim moved to Little Rock AFB in the Arkansas where Jim was stationed. While at Little Rock they welcomed two children, Justina Joy in 1964 and James Kevin in 1965.
While in the Air Force Karen and Jim traveled to many different bases. They made many lifelong friendships over the years. In 1981, Jim retired, and they moved back to her family farm in Centralia. While the kids were at home, she was a stay home mom and a housewife. Karen had various jobs after the kids were grown. She helped family friends on their farms. She worked at the Centralia Café, Centralia Animal Clinic, Eastridge Nursing Home and Centralia Home Health. She was a hospice worker, and also worked for Little’s accounting. She took care of numerous couples cleaning and being a caregiver.
She enjoyed many things during her life. Spending time with her family, pets, her flower garden, birds and the feeders. She loved going to the pond and watching the fish frenzy as they fed them. Her faith and Christian fellowship. She loved going to garage sales and haggling when she could.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Lysle and Katheryn Reinhart and granddaughter, Katy Yarger.
She is survived by her husband Jim of the family farm in Centralia, Justina (Dean) Zartman of Centralia and James (Kelly) VanGilder of Olathe, Kansas. Her grandchildren Dawn (Chris) Blewett of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Chris and Sylas Yarger of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Karen Zartman of Centralia. James VanGilder and Grace VanGilder both of Olathe, Kansas.
A visitation will be held on October 30, 2023, from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday at the Centralia Community Church (West) in Centralia. Burial will be in the Vermillion Cemetery.
Memorial will be designated at a later date sent in care of the family.
A visitation will be held on October 30, 2023, from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 31, 20232 at the Centralia Community Church (West) in Centralia. Burial will be followed in the Vermillion Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on October 30, 2023, from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday at the Centralia Community Church (West) in Centralia. Burial will be followed in the Vermillion Cemetery.
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Condolences
So sorry for your loss. Karen will be missed by many. Love and Prayers to you Jim and the whole family.
Our sympathy to you all. Enjoyed Karen when she came to church in Vermillion. We will miss her greatly.
Karen will be so greatly missed. I’m so sorry for your loss. Jim, Tina, and Kevin. Your mom was one of the best, one of the good guys. Even after I moved away she still stayed in touch with me. Still kept me informed on what was happening in our little towns. I will miss her so much whenever I come back to visit. Godspeed, Karen! 🌹❤️
Tina, Kerri and Vangilder Family. Nothing can take away the pain of losing such an important person in your life. I can only wish that good memories fill your souls until you see each other again. I have heard how important she was to the both of you and I got a small glimpse over the past few days while she was here at Eastridge as to how much she means to her husband. My thoughts are with all of you.
Jennifer Traxler
Nothing I can say will ease your pain, but I am forever sorry for you losing someone so special.
Debbie Townsend
(My Mom was Connie Reinhart Hoke. My grandpa was Wayne Reinhart)
It has been awhile since I have seen Karen. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
I am so sorry for the loss of an amazing woman! She was like another mother to me and I loved her dearly! I will miss our communications greatly. I know that heaven is celebrating her homecoming as we grieve on earth. My prayers are with the family. May her memory bring comfort in the days that come and smiles and laughter in the years that follow.