December 27, 1935 - March 2, 2025
Karen was born December 27, 1935 in Derby, Connecticut, the second daughter of Anders and Karen Andersen. Anders was a Danish immigrant, and his wife Karen an American born of Danish immigrants. Karen grew up in a warm and supportive environment with aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents all living in the neighbourhood.
When her parents split up, Karen moved to Dallas, Texas to be with her father after high school, and then to the Los Angeles area to stay with her sister Joan. It was here that she met a U.S. Marine, Robert Lane, at a Lutheran church. Robert and Karen were married June 25, 1955.
Karen and Bob had three children: Steven, James, and Margaret. The family lived up and down the coast in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Seattle, and Coos Bay. Karen was a wonderful mother. She learned to drive in her 30s so she could take her kids to their school, sports, and arts activities. She introduced the kids to elements of her Danish heritage, like some of the traditions surrounding Christmas: we would announce Christmas morning with calls of"Glaedlig Jul!"
The family moved to Nanaimo in 1969, and it was here Karen and Bob stayed. Karen took classes off and on at Malaspina College (later Vancouver Island University), returning often to the pottery studio. She grew quite adept at throwing pots, producing several fine works over the years.
Karen worked much of her adult life. Two jobs were particularly satisfying. In the 1980s, she was hired at NRGH as an Occupational Therapist Aide. She carved out a niche as "the Play Lady", working primarily with children who were in the hospital for lengthy stays. After that job, Karen worked in the Malaspina College library, where she worked until her retirement in 1997 bringing in interlibrary loans that faculty and students had ordered.
Steve's kids got some of the best of Grandma Karen when they were young.Weekly visits were rich with arts, various crafts, and a well-stocked "tickle trunk". In her retirement, Karen made many trips to see Jim and Margaret and her sister Joan in Colorado, and she enjoyed a few trips to Denmark to see cousins.
Karen leaves behind her husband of 69 years, Robert Lane, her three children Steve (Deborah), Jim, and Margaret Riley (Tony), grandchildren Erik Lane (Nicole), Alex Lane (Shane), Nick Brandstaetter (Kim), and Kyle Brandstaetter (Deborah), and great grandchildren Broedy, Emily, Owen, Siena, Holt, andMila. Several nieces and nephews in the U.S.
A celebration of Karen's life has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 1 at the Departure Bay Kin Hut in Nanaimo.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage donations to the Alzheimer's Society.
Service Details
10:00 AM