Karen Marie Vavra was born on September 6, 1938 to Emerich and Janet (O’Rear) Vavra in St. Joseph, Missouri. She passed away peacefully on December 2, 2025 in St. Joseph. She was loving, grateful, fun to be around, and had an incredible zest for life. The cornerstones of her life were family, friends and faith. She resided in St. Joseph nearly her entire life and deeply cared for the community.
The Lake Contrary Amusement Park was a special destination during Karen’s childhood. Her parents took Karen and her sister, Janet, to Lake Contrary to enjoy rides and movies if the girls had behaved all week. Karen and her sister also worked during summers at their parent’s business, Vavra Bakery. Karen loved to pump her own jelly donuts and perfected filling them with the most amount of jelly possible. Time spent working at the bakery explains Karen’s life-long love of sweets and baking desserts. She was an accomplished baker whose skills were honed by guidance from her father. Karen made frosted cookie cutter cookies for her children and grandchildren every holiday. Her apple pies, fruit cobblers, and “cherry berries on a cloud” dessert were legendary.
In 1956 Karen graduated from Central High School. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a BS in Education in 1959. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. After graduation, Karen taught in the St. Joseph public schools. She also taught at The Huny Tree Preschool for fifteen years.
A friend of the Vavra and Grace families introduced John O. Grace to Karen at church. They wed on October 6, 1962. They were married for fifty-two years. It was a true partnership based on love, commitment, and a focus on family. They had a shared passion for praising and encouraging others. Fun times spent with friends brought them great joy.
Karen created a warm, loving home for her family. Weenie roasts at the farm, summer trips to North Carolina, and sitting in church alongside grandparents are just a few of the memories which will always remain with her children. As a grandmother, Karen planned fun and creative activities - paddle boat excursions, outings to feed chipmunks, miniature golf, and building birdhouses. She loved playing with her grandkids. She cherished her role as mother and grandmother; always supporting and cheering us on.
Karen lived a full, joyous, and active life. Friends were integral to her life and these relationships meant so much to her. She snow skied until she was 73 years old, and golfed until she was 80 years old. Karen was passionate about cheering on her favorite sports teams, but always hoped most for a competitive game. She loved playing board games with her family, trips to Colorado, hosting garage sales, getting her hair done, dinner with friends, and mahjong on Thursdays.
Faith was a cornerstone of her life; sustaining her and guiding how she lived her life. She was a member of Ashland United Methodist Church and treasured her church family. Karen was also active in many St. Joseph organizations: P.EO. Sisterhood - Chapter FL (65 years), Junior League of St. Joseph (50 years), Ladies Union Benevolent Association board member (30 years), Flower Society, and Questers.
She is survived by her children: Julie (David), Lori, and David (Jill); grandchildren: Ryan, Grace, and Catherine; niece, Janet; and nephew, Bill. She was preceded in death by her husband, John O. Grace; parents, Emerich R. Vavra and Janet O’Rear Vavra; and sister, Janet Sanford.
Thank you to Mosaic Life Care, Acute Rehab, and Hospice physicians, nurses, therapists and caregivers. We will always remember your professionalism and compassionate care. Thank you to friends for the messages and cards; Karen knew you were thinking of her.
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Friday, December 19, Ashland United Methodist Church. Inurnment Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Friday, at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Noyes Home for Children at 801 N Noyes Blvd, St Joseph, MO; Second Harvest Community Food Bank at 900 E Highland Ave, St Joseph, MO; or The Karen Vavra Grace Education Scholarship for education students (payable to The Kansas University Endowment Association, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044-0928).
We love you forever and always.
