Karen Ann Walsko

age 65, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away September 25, 2017. Karen is survived by her loving and devoted husband Gregory M. Walsko; children: Greg (Dani) Walsko, Mike (Kristi) Walsko, Jessica (Matt) Hilliker and Michelle (Luke) Heiar; grandchildren: Kyla, Kalani, Mason, Felicity, Easton and one little angel on the way; mother Kathryn Oberlies.

Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, October 1, 2017 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM at the Solan Pruzin Funeral Home 14 Kennedy Ave Schererville, IN.  Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM DIRECTLY at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church 8103 Columbia Ave Munster with Fr. Steven Koplinka officiating. Karen will be laid to rest at St. Nicholas Cemetery Hammond.

Karen Ann Walsko, the eldest of five children, had an innate nurturing ability and learned to care for others at an early age by helping her mother care for her younger siblings.  She always loved being with both of her grandmothers and the special time they shared together.  She loved playing with dolls, especially Barbie dolls and listening to the Beatles music, as well as collecting Beatles memorabilia.

She Graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education. She was a member and officer of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and a "little sis" of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.  She met the love of her life, Greg during a social function at his fraternity, after he returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam. It was a good thing that Greg was "old school" and visited his fraternity on various weekends.

After she graduated from college she became a teacher of special education in the Indianapolis public schools and continued to date Greg, until they married two years later. Greg stated, "That he married his princess and it was the best thing that ever happened to him."  She always supported Greg as a University Professor and head soccer coach.  She took time off from her teaching career to devote all of her time to raising her four children until they were old enough to enter school.

She returned to teaching and became a first grade teacher in La Crosse Wisconsin public schools and completed her Master of Education in Professional Development from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  During this time she was a union representative for her school and a member of Kappa Delta Gamma Society International that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education.

She embraced the Byzantine Catholic Rite and its traditions and taught her children how to practice all the ethnic traditions. Easter was her favorite religious holiday, as she prepared the ethnic foods for the blessing of the Easter basket. She was a devout Catholic who attended Sunday Masses and holy days, as well as reciting the Rosary on a daily basis.

She was patient, forever loving, nurturing, and a natural teacher who had a passion for working with children.  She always left a lasting memory on those she taught, as former students would come back to visit her.  She loved transforming her classroom into an ocean unit and during December taught holidays around the world. Her favorite school holiday was Halloween where she infused this theme into all her lessons.  Her valued colleagues in La Crosse public schools where she taught for 24 years were her extended family, who shared family experiences and teaching moments.  The teachers supported one another through the good times and bad times.  She became one of the first soccer mom's in the 80's and brought orange slices, drinks, snacks, blankets, etc., along with carpooling kids around effortlessly. She made her two daughters at ages 9 and 10, cheerleading outfits and pom poms, so that they could cheer on Greg's first UWL Women's Varsity Soccer home game. The players, parents, fans, and students loved it!

She had a passion for sewing and English smocking thanks to her aunt who had influenced her. She made bonnets for the babies in the hospital while living in Kentucky. She had a special gift of creating and sewing the most beautiful dresses for her daughters, granddaughters, and nieces. Her labor of love turned into creating the English smocked christening gowns for her great niece, and her three grandchildren.

She was a devoted mother and wife and the most selfless person especially when it came to providing for her family and others. Her husband and children were her life, and her grandchildren always brought her so much joy. Greg told his children that he had picked them the best mother in the whole world!