- Date Of Birth: September 17, 1962
- Date Of Death: April 4, 2012
- State: Illinois
Karen M. Jansen, 49, of Breese, lost her 23 year battle with cancer at her home on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. She was born on September 17, 1962 in Breese, IL the daughter of Elizabeth “Betty” (Strake) and Douglas Smith. She married Kevin Jansen on August 29, 1992 at St. Augustine Church in Breese and they later divorced.
Karen is survived by her daughter, Kayla Marie Jansen of Breese; her mother, Betty Smith of Breese; two sisters, Marietta (Ralph) Kuhl and Carla, her twin, (Charlie) Hilmes all of Breese; two brothers, Timothy (Sandy) Smith of Nashville, and Jeffrey (Kathy) Smith of Breese; nieces and nephews, Alicia (friend, Dan) Kuhl, Courtney Kuhl, Alex (friend, Melissa) Kuhl, Cierra Hilmes, Joshua Smith, Brooke Smith, Ryan (friend, Kelly) Smith, Amber (Garrett) Reilmann, Shelby (fiancé, Kyle) Smith, and Cody Smith; great nieces, Lilly Reilmann and Lylah Stein; aunts and uncles, Danny and Rose Strake, Judy Brown, and Dennis “Bucky” and Doris Strake; great aunts, Lorraine Strake and Marcella Stuever; cousins, friends, neighbors and her little buddy, Rascal.
She was preceded in death by her father; a sister, Mary Catherine, in infancy; her maternal grandparents, Ray and Virginia Strake; her paternal grandparents, d Louie Pike and Denver Smith; a nephew, Trent Smith, in infancy; and an uncle, Norman Brown. Karen was a medical transcriptionist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese. Prior to that, she was a medical transcriptionist at St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia.
She was a member of St. Augustine Parish and St. Monica’s Altar Sodality in Breese and the Mater Dei Mothers and Friends Club in Breese. She was a supporter of Clinton County Relay for Life and proudly walked as a survivor. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and whenever someone needed help, she was always there. Spring was probably her favorite time of year so she could tend to her flower gardens.
