Karen Wollman

Karen Wollman, formerly of Menno, passed away at Harrison Bay Assisted Living in Mound, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 31, at the age of 87 years. A visitation is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 7 p.m., at Walter Funeral Home in Freeman, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. A funeral will take place Saturday, Nov 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Salem MB Church, with burial and a lunch to follow. 

 Karen's longtime favorite color has been purple. In honor of her, feel free to wear something purple at her services. 

Karen Wollman, 87, formerly of Menno, passed away at Harrison Bay Assisted Living in Mound, Minn., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. As the sixth of seven children of John M. and Mary (Hofer) Tschetter, Karen Jean Tschetter Wollman was the first member of her family to be born in a hospital when she came into this world in Huron, S.D., on May 20, 1937. She grew up on her family farm near Yale, S.D., and attended country schools near Yale through half of eighth grade. Her teachers included her sister Alma (Tschetter) Hofer (Mrs. Joe C. Hofer) and her future sister-in-law, Alma (Hofer) Wollman (Mrs. Reuben Wollman). The transition to a much larger public school system in Huron during half of 8th grade and then 9th and 10th grade was a challenge for her during her adolescence; however, she was then able to complete her high school degree with many fond memories of attending Sunshine Bible Academy for her final two years of high school. Over her growing-up years, as a younger member of a large family with much older siblings, she often served as a babysitter for many of her nieces and nephews, many of whom formed special lasting relationships with her in that role.

Karen went on to attend one year of college at Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebr., in 1955 to 1956 and would speak very fondly of the friends and memories she formed during that brief time. After completing some summer school at Northern State in Aberdeen and teaching one year at a country school near Doland, S.D., Karen spent three years at Huron College, where she completed a degree in elementary education in 1960.

After meeting Simon Aaron Wollman at a Sunday school convention at Huron and then dating him for the final two years of attendance at Huron College, she and Simon were united in marriage in Bethel MB Church near Yale on August 12, 1960. The couple initially relocated to Menno, S.D., and lived in town for approximately three and a half years while Simon assisted with the farming operation of his father, Andrew R. Wollman, on the family farm northwest of Menno. The union was blessed with three children: Craig, Nancy, and Nathan. The couple moved from Menno to the family farm in December 1963 immediately prior to Craig's birth in January 1964, where they farmed, raised their family and lived for over 42 years until Simon’s death in May 2006. She and Simon experienced all of the ups and downs that characterize farming in rural South Dakota. When talking about any type of future plans with Karen, she would often be known to add the caveat that one's plans were “weather permitting.”

Karen's Christian faith has played a central role in her life. At age 10, Karen accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior with the assistance of Mrs. Eli L Hofer at Byron Bible Camp. Shortly thereafter, she was baptized by Reverend Eli L. Hofer and eventually became a member of Bethel Church near Yale. Her favorite life verses included Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 23, John 5:24, and John 3:16, and her favorite hymns included “Day by Day” and “Blessed Assurance.” As a member of the Salem Mennonite Brethren Church from 1960 until her passing on October 31, 2024, she was regularly involved in Bible study groups. She was also very active as both a Sunday school teacher and a leader of the ladies ministry at Salem M.B. She was known for her generous hospitality as a host and a good cook for guests in her home. When Karen delivered “butterhorn” rolls to the teacher's lounge at the Menno Public School, the news spread quickly. She was very practical in her gift giving to family members and, for many years, faithfully remembered people's birthdays and anniversaries. She donated generously and frequently to numerous Christian ministries, organizations, and missionary projects.

Although a stay-at-home mom, Karen did utilize her elementary education degree, initially teaching at a country school north of Menno for the 1960-1961 school year and then teaching 4th grade at Menno Public School for two school years from 1961 through 1963. After the birth of Nancy in December 1967, she also temporarily took over a vacancy for a part-time vocal music teacher position at Menno Public School from November 1969 through May 1971. Then she continued as a substitute teacher in the Menno Public School system and nearby Hutterite colony schools for five decades, from the 1970s through 2017.

Although not always common in that era, Karen did have the opportunity to take piano lessons from the time she was 10 years old, and she continued to do so throughout her time as a college student at Huron College. She also had vocal music lessons during her college years and was a member of her high school and college choirs at both Grace Bible Institute and Huron College. These opportunities gave her a great foundation for lifelong music work and ministry. She directed the Salem M.B. church choir over various time spans during the next 50 years. She began teaching private piano lessons in her home when a parent of one of Craig's elementary classmates asked her to try teaching piano lessons. This soon blossomed into a daily activity of teaching private lessons at the conclusion of the school day from the 1970s right up to November 2022 when she moved into assisted living at Mound, Minn. During those five decades, she had amassed a roster of nearly 200 piano students. Many of her students continued on to play as high school accompanists and as adults involved in their churches. Karen also was the pianist for her son Craig's Sounds of Truth men’s quartet from the early 1980s until she broke her arm in an untimely fall in 1984. During more recent decades, Karen particularly enjoyed being a member of a women's trio at Salem M.B. with her good friends Karol Hofer and Judy Glanzer.

Simon and Karen both shared a love of music which resulted in three children who were all extensively involved in music, with all three of Karen's children being included among her piano students. As their children grew, they took much pride in supporting and enjoying their children’s musical endeavors. They attended every possible music concert that their children and grandchildren were involved in. They hosted and attended many concerts of Craig and Lois' music ministry team, Harvest Crew, which toured nationally to promote Tabor College from 1988 to 1992. In the 1990’s they attended their son Nathan's numerous piano concerts, recitals and orchestra performances at Augustana College, as well as several solo performances in the Freeman area. Once she moved to Mound, Minn., Karen was able to attend Calvary Memorial Church where her daughter Nancy plays keyboard on the worship team. Finally, Karen was proud that her granddaughter, Bethany Kemper, completed her college degree in music education and is now the vocal music and drama teacher at Heritage Christian Academy in Maple Grove, Minn. Karen was able to attend a number of the concerts and drama productions that Bethany directed in the past four years.

A new chapter in Karen's life opened up with Simon Wollman's passing on May 11, 2006, after being united in marriage for 45 and a half years. That summer Karen moved into Menno, and son Craig and Lois took over the family farming operation northwest of Menno. She continued her work as a substitute teacher and private piano instructor, but she also began enjoying additional activities with her dear friends. She especially enjoyed playing Rummikub and spending time with local friends Stella Nusz, Lori Mehlhaf, Donna Zeeb, Pearle Bak, and Kay Aisenbrey, to name but a few. During the years that granddaughters Bethany and Andrea attended Freeman Academy, where Craig is the math teacher, Karen attended many of her granddaughters’ concerts, theater productions, and sporting events. She was also able to attend a number of her granddaughter Heather (Heilman) Uribe's cross country meets at Northwestern College in nearby Iowa. For many Christmases over the years, Karen enjoyed yearly packing an Operation Christmas Child box with each of her granddaughters, Heather, Shawna, Bethany, and Andrea, to be sent to children in other countries.

The final chapter in Karen's life occurred when, after 62 years of living in the Menno area, she relocated to the Harrison Bay Senior Living retirement home in Mound, Minn., in November 2022. In addition to the care she received in this facility, her daughter Nancy and granddaughter Heather provided Karen with numerous hours of additional, specialized care and attention as Karen dealt with the increasing frustrations of dementia and other physical limitations. Even during this difficult period of adjustment, she made many new friends, continued to play Rummikub and piano to the best of her ability, and also enjoyed puzzles, bingo, and Bible studies. Significantly, a new dimension of vitality and enjoyment opened up during this time as Karen was now able to spend a significant amount of time around her infant great-granddaughters, Lorraine Delia Uribe and Margaret Jean Uribe (named after Karen Jean) during this final phase of her life. In August 2024, Karen was also able to spend a special afternoon with her granddaughter Shawna of Arizona whom she had not seen for several years.

After being hospitalized with throat and lung complications for two weeks during September and October of 2024, Karen returned to Harrison Bay where she was placed in hospice care and passed away on October 31, 2024, a week after a severe stroke, having attained a very full life at nearly 87 and one-half years. During these final weeks, her daughter Nancy and granddaughter Heather regularly sang her favorite hymn, “Day by Day,” at her bedside.

Although she wore many hats in her life as farm wife, mother, educator, musician, host, and friend, Karen will continue to be loved, remembered, and cherished for her qualities as a person: her steadfastness, her pragmatism, her generosity, and her deep gratitude to her Creator for the life, opportunities, and family with which she was blessed during her time in this world.

Karen is survived by her children Craig Alan (Lois) Wollman of Menno, S.D.; Nancy Rae (Patrick) Heilman of Mound, Minn.; Nathan Ron Wollman of Chicago, Ill.; granddaughters Heather (Ramiro) Uribe of Mound, Minn,; Shawna (Heilman) Sunshine of Phoenix, Ariz.; Bethany (Andy) Kemper of Minneapolis, Minn.; Andrea Wollman of Minneapolis, Minn.; great-granddaughters Lorraine Uribe and Margaret Uribe of Mound, Minn.; sisters-in-law Betty Jean Tschetter of Rapid City, S.D.; Shirley Tschetter of Sioux Falls, S.D.; sister Wanda (James) Kleinsasser of Huron, S.D.; brother Ron (Nancy) Tschetter of Rapid City, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by husband Simon Aaron Wollman, parents John M. Tschetter and Mary (Hofer) Tschetter, sister Elsie (Tschetter) Glanzer, brother-in-law Peter Glanzer, brother Menno Tschetter, sister Alma (Tschetter) Hofer and brother-in-law Joe C. Hofer, and brother Kenneth Tschetter.

Memorials may be designed for Byron Bible Camp, Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child) or Gideons International.