In Memory

Karen Rollins (Knauss)

Karen Leslie Knauss

FEBRUARY 4, 1945 – DECEMBER 20, 2023

Karen Leslie Knauss passed away on December 20th, 2023.
Karen was born February 4th, 1945 in Kansas City, Missouri to Albert and Donna (Nelson) Rollins.

She married Earl Knauss on December 22nd, 1974. They spent 46 wonderful years together until his passing in November 2020. They enjoyed traveling, entertaining, and being together. She is also preceded in death by her parents Albert and Donna Rollins and brother Ronald Rollins.

Karen and Earl spent over 30 years splitting their time between Kansas City and Palm Springs. In Palm Springs, Karen could be found supporting Earl in his endeavor to become the next Sinatra at the Sandbar and Vicky’s. She also volunteered for many years as a Docent at the Living Desert Zoo. During her time in Palm Springs, she and another friend decided to create a cookbook. For those who know Karen, this is funny because she did not cook. However, she was very successful with seven cookbooks that had humor dispersed throughout the books.

While in Kansas City, Karen would be found cheering on Earl singing at the InterContinental Plaza Hotel and Johnnie’s Jazz Bar in Liberty. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels for over 30 years and during her deliveries, she enjoyed getting to know the people and looked forward to conversations with them. Karen enjoyed accompanying Earl to KU football and basketball games.

Karen had a love for animals, especially dogs and horses. She began riding horses at an early age and then picked it back up as an adult. She spent many hours at the barn and was an accomplished rider. She traveled to many competitions showing horses with her trainer and dear friend, Colleen. Karen was also known for her generosity and was quite a seamstress as she would make chaps and vests for kids who were also showing horses.

As a young girl, Karen spent most of her summers at the Lake of the Ozarks. Since she wasn’t one to let her brother and his friends show her up, she learned to water ski and became quite a good skier and showed those boys a thing or two.

Karen was known by her family and close friends as full of life, playful, a joker, and always in charge. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and she always spoiled the kids. However, there was usually a ‘fun’ catch. The kids would have to solve some sort of puzzle to get their ‘whole’ gift.

She is survived by daughters: Michelle (John) Sonderegger and Sharon Knauss, grandchildren: Stephanie (Mike) Hammann, Ryan Sonderegger, Alex Brink, and Anneka Brink, great-grandson: Wyatt Hammann, niece: Laura (David) Knipp, grand-nieces: Jordyn (Luis) Castaneda, Mikayla Knipp and Abby Knipp, sister-in-law: Ronnie Rollins, dear friends: Colleen Baker and Joyce Christensen.

Services for Karen will be held on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024 at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, Missouri 64133. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm and a memorial service will begin at 2:00 pm. A graveside service will be scheduled for a later date.

www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/karen-knauss-11593225



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

01/01/24 08:11 PM #1    

David Zieg

I Remer Karen as such a sweet gal and oh so pretty. May she rest in peace.

01/02/24 06:22 AM #2    

Linda Switzer

I was literally talking about Karen yesterday & thinking how to get ahold of her. We were neighbors out south when we were 5 and Karen moved to Briarcliff Road. We moved north when I was 10 and we became friends again. Earl & my former husband were golfing buddies so our paths crossed again in mid-life. She was a lovely, soft spoken woman. I'm sad that I lost touch with her again over the years.


go to top 
  Post Comment