Karen Arzt

July 7, 1948 - February 24, 2021

Karen Arzt, 72, of Grand Island passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at CHI-Health St. Francis. Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at All Faiths Funeral Home. Private Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Park Cemetery. A Memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are designated to Grand Island Evangelical Free Church Music Department, Central Nebraska Humane Society or Grand Island Public School Foundation. Karen Ann Arzt was born July 7, 1948, to George William and Corinne Emma (Branting) Arzt in North Platte, Nebraska. Karen passed away February 24, 2021. She attended Jefferson Elementary School, Adams Junior High School and graduated from North Platte Senior High School in 1966. She continued her education at North Platte Central Community College and North Platte School of Commerce graduating with a business degree. Later years she added additional classes by attending Grand Island Central Community College and Dakota County College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Karen was hired on at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company/Century Link as a Secretary in the District Office in North Platte. During her 30 years of service she worked in various departments moving from North Platte to Grand Island, then to Omaha and St. Paul, Minnesota. She retired in 1997 by completing her telephone career in Minnesota. After moving back to Grand Island she was employed at Snow’s Floral Company, Grand Island Senior High School in the business office and Stolley Park Elementary School as secretary to the principal retiring in 2009. Memberships include a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Grand Island and secretary/treasurer of White Cross. Other affiliations include the Telephone Pioneers of America, CWA, Leadership Tomorrow Class 20 in Grand Island; Past President and member of the B.P.O. Does and Past President and member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in North Platte. For hobbies, Karen was talented in decorating and created floral arrangements and wreaths and enjoyed playing several stringed instruments, piano and organ. She and her Mother traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe including a special visit to their heritage homeland of Sweden. For much of her lifetime, Estes Park, Colorado was her second home with a great love for the mountains and wildlife. Surviving members for her family are: Cousins Patti and Tom Sprague of Maine; Lou Pappas of New York; Chris and Paul Delongchamp; Stan and Paula Pappas; Jerry Branting; Norman and Loralee Branting, all of Colorado. Nieces and nephews Kim and Pete St. John; Jessica and Danny (deceased) Pappas; Jeremy and Janelle Branting all of Colorado. She was preceded in death by her parents, aunts and uncles Evelyn and John Riddle, Lee and LeOna Branting, Bernice and Louie Pappas, Harlan and Lorraine Branting, and uncle Marvin Branting. Memorials may be sent to the Grand Island Evangelical Free Church music department, the Humane Society in Grand Island, or Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, in her memory.