Karen Wollersheim, age 77, passed away on May 29, 2022 in McAllen, TX. She was born
on June 15, 1944 in Manitowoc, WI, a daughter of Elwood and Mavis (Prochnow)
Gutschow. Karen attended Woodland Elementary School in Town of Meeme and
graduated from Kiel High School in 1962.
On January 12, 1963 she married William Wollersheim at Zion Lutheran Church in Louis
Corners. The couple lived in the Plymouth area during their working years and, after
retirement, spent their winters in McAllen, Texas. In 2019 they made McAllen their
permanent home. Karen and Bill liked to travel and toured many of the states in the US,
Alberta and Ontario, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean. They frequently visited towns in
northern Mexico, and spent extended time in Door County, Wisconsin, and Fort Myers,
Florida.
Karen had a 25-year career with Aurora Health Care starting as an X-Ray technician at the
former Plymouth Hospital, until retiring in 2006 as the Director of Environmental
Services. Karen was ahead of her time when she implemented the hospital’s first recycling
program in the 1980’s. At work her actions were led by her personal mottos of: 1) treat
others the way you want to be treated, 2) always lend a helping hand, and 3) try to leave a
place better than you found it.
Alongside her best friend and colleague, Linda Dufek, Karen was an active member in her
trade organization, the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA). Karen
held several officer positions for her local IEHA chapter, planned and organized state and
regional IEHA conferences, participated in thirteen national IEHA conventions held in
different states, and was an IEHA-team member that spent three weeks in Moscow sharing
best practices with their Russian counterparts at a children’s hospital.
Karen was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth and the Altar Guild of the
church, and also attended and was a greeter at St. Paul Lutheran Church in McAllen.
Through the years Karen volunteered for churches and charities in Plymouth and McAllen
including March of Dimes, Neat Repeats, American Cancer Society, Comfort House
Hospice, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Plymouth Food Pantry, and Salvation Army. She
enjoyed traveling, camping, baking, playing cribbage and card games. Karen was also a
sports fan and enjoyed rooting for the Wisconsin Badgers, the Milwaukee Brewers and the
Green Bay Packers. She loved spending time with family and friends.
Karen is survived by her husband, William of McAllen, TX; daughter Fay (Wade) Weis of
Plymouth, WI; daughter Doreen (Bruce) Hahn of Paducah, KY; grandson Trevor (Ellen)
Weis of Hampton, MN; step-grandson Ryan (Millie) Hahn of Paducah, KY; step-grandson
Grant (Matt Lind) Hahn of Chicago, IL; step-grandson Alex (Alli) Hahn of Paducah, KY;
five step-great grandchildren of Paducah, KY; brother Jerry (MarJean) Gutschow of
Sturgeon Bay, WI; sister Connie (James) Kohlbeck of Whitelaw, WI; sister-in-law Judy
Gutschow of Sheboygan, WI; sister-in-law LuAnn (Dale) Jeanty of Howards Grove, WI;
dear friend Linda (Roger) Dufek of Manitowoc, WI; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elwood and Mavis Gutschow of Kiel, WI and
brother, Roger Gutschow of Sheboygan, WI.
A memorial service for Karen will be held on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 3:00 pm at
Suchon Funeral Home in Plymouth. Reverend Schultz, Pastor of St. John Lutheran
Church will officiate. Friends may call at Suchon Funeral Home on June 15, 2022 from
1:00 pm until the time of services. Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in the
Plymouth Woodlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent in memory of Karen Wollersheim to St.
John Lutheran Church, 222 N. Stafford Street, Plymouth, WI 53073 or St. Paul Lutheran
Church, 300 Pecan Boulevard, McAllen, TX 78501.
The Suchon Funeral Home is assisting the family. For online condolences, please visit
www.suchonfh.com.
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