Sparkman Crane Funeral Home
http://www.dignitymemorial.com/sparkman-crane-funeral-home/en-us/index.page
Karen Sue Nikkel passed away on March 4, 2025, with her children and husband by her side. Born June 17,1943 to Gwendolyn (Dotson) and Donald Hellar in Wichita, Kansas, Karen graduated from East High School in Wichita and attended Wichita State University. She married Dennis Martin Wright in 1963, they raised four children in the Maize, Kansas school district: Andy, Amy, Ben and Carrie. Karen was actively involved with the La Leche League and the Girl Scouts of America. She worked at the Wichita Historical Museum in the 1970s and early 80s for the Oakland Avenue Crazies, refinishing furniture and helping design vignettes. In the 1980s and 90s she worked at Prairie Pines Christmas Tree Farm in Maize, Kansas, helping decorate all the trees in the barn - Christmas was her favorite holiday and the tree farm helped her celebrate the season. Once all her children were off to college, she began working for The Gap in Wichita, Kansas. Folding shirts, helping customers and shopping for her grandchildren became her "hobby". Her work colleagues (the Farkels) quickly became her friends. They bonded over games, stories and loads of laughter. They took a yearly trip to Lake of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri documenting their spirited friendship by taking outlandish group pictures! Karen married Wesley J. Nikkel in 2002. They built a life full of balloon chasing, country western dancing and loving their family. After Karen's children settled in Dallas,Texas, there were many years spent driving back and forth to visit each other. The grandchildren enjoyed many summers at "Camp Gram", swimming, looking for turtles and celebrating the 4th of July. Karen and Wes moved to Dallas in 2013 to be closer to family. Karen loved having family around on a regular basis. She spent her time sewing, crafting, painting and bedazzling anything and everything. She often declared that her best cardio was walking the aisles of Target, Michaels, JoAnnes and Hobby Lobby. She and Wes hosted family gatherings, cheered grandkids on at sporting events and recitals, and happily photo-bombed prom pictures! In 2015, Karen received a single lung transplant and was given the gift of renewed life. We will be forever grateful for the care and guidance the pulmonary transplant team at UT Southwestern (especially Dr. Vaidehi Kaza) has given us. The genius of science gave Karen the miracle of a renewed life for 9 1/2 years. We will all miss her mischievous smile, witty banter and flair for the holidays. The grandkids will especially remember leaving her house with loads of candy...Gram's grab-and-go was always stocked!
Survived by her husband Wesley; children Andy (Jan Langlinais), Amy (Richard Cuccia), Ben (Lydia Wright) and Carrie (Scott Snelgrove); step-son Kevin Nikkel (Molly Nikkel); sister Kathy Probst; niece and nephew Mandy and Buddy Probst and fourteen grandchildren: Kristen Wright, Andrew "Drew" Wright, Tessa Wright, Abby Cuccia, Hank Cuccia, Libby Cuccia, Ruby Cuccia, Hattie Mae Cuccia, Charlie Wright, Gwenie Wright, Avery Bishop, Peyton Bishop, Gracyn Bishop and Cayden Snelgrove. Preceded in death by her parents Gwendolyn (Dotson) and Donald Hellar.
A gathering of friends and family will take place Saturday, March 8 at the home of Richard and Amy Cuccia in Dallas, Texas. A funeral will take place in Wichita, Kansas on July 12, 2025, the location is still to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Southwest Transplant Alliance Foundation in Memory of Karen S. Nikkel. Donations can be made online at https://www.organ.org/in-memory - select Memorial Gift - dedicated to Karen S. Nikkel. You may also donate by mail at: Southwest Transplant Alliance Foundation, 8190 Manderville Lane Dallas, Texas 75231 and include in the memo donated in memory of Karen S. Nikkel.
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