Karen Jean Warren

Karen Warren

On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Karen Jean Warren of Zionsville, Indiana departed this life following a brief illness but after living a very full life.  Karen was born July 25, 1936, in Birmingham, Michigan, to Opal and Arnold Grooms, and was the eldest of three children.  Karen lived an idyllic childhood in Birmingham and would often talk about still having her Birmingham library card which she treasured.

Karen graduated with a degree in nursing from the University of Michigan in 1958, but her true passions would remain anthropology, reading, travel, learning, and genealogy.  It was at the University of Michigan that Karen also developed another passion, and that was for her husband, Wayne A. Warren.  The dashing young gymnast caught her eye when they both worked at their dorm’s cafeteria, and she was thrilled to be dating the engineering grad student.  In August of 1958, they made it official and were married at a local church and celebrated in the back garden of her parent’s home in Birmingham.

After they both graduated from University of Michigan, (where they had been indoctrinated into the Wolverine family, a lifelong love affair that both she and Wayne would carry with them long after they left the campus, GO BLUE!), they moved to Buffalo, New York to start life as a married couple.  Karen briefly worked as a nurse in Michigan before their move to support her husband’s career.  Once they settled in New York, they set up house in Buffalo where they would welcome two sons.  Wayne’s job over the next few years would take them from Buffalo to Indianapolis and back again several times.  Eventually, they settled in Indiana permanently but maintained their friendships from both states for many years to come, as well as with Karen’s roommates from her college days.  They would take trips as a family to Camp Michigania, and their sons recall wearing blue and maize from the time they were born.  Karen and Wayne were not only partners in marriage, but they would also be tennis, bridge, and lifelong travel partners for over 63 years.

Karen was an active volunteer within her community as a member of the Junior League, Pike High School Band Boosters, The Zionsville Food Pantry, Impact 100 of Greater Indianapolis, and for many years with the Helpline/Connect2Help which connected local residents with essential services throughout the area.  She took pride in her volunteerism and helped support her husband’s efforts with the Zionsville Lion’s Club.

Karen was an avid bridge and mahjong player and made many devoted friends through those activities as well as being a part of a book club and walking group in Zionsville.  Karen was also an enthusiastic traveler and lifelong learner, she and Wayne took many trips throughout the continental US and Hawaii, often participating in Elderhostel, Road Scholar trips where they ventured to various places while exploring the history, flora, and fauna of each region.  Karen was an involved mother and grandmother, and soon to be great grandmother.  Her family will fondly remember her numerous Christmas cookies, her quirky sense of gift giving, her lovely needlework, her love of games, hot soup, and moose tracks ice cream.  We hope the next time you enjoy a bowl of soup, “nice and hot”, or a Boston Cooler (with chocolate ice cream), that you will smile and think of Karen.

The family would like to sincerely thank Karen’s numerous friends who have provided love, support, rides, and food during the past few months.  And a special thanks to the hardworking and compassionate medical professionals at IU Health University Hospital, Hoosier Village, and AseraCare Hospice for their loving care during her final days.

She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her loving husband Wayne Warren, sons Chris Warren (Heidi), Scott Warren (Katherine), grandchildren Leigh Deane (Mo), Kaitlin Iden, Connor Warren (Megan), Megan Warren and one great grandchild Wren Deane, due in March of this year, her sister Barbara Curtis, sister-in-law Lucille Grooms, and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.  She is predeceased by her parents, her younger brother Dennis Grooms, and brother-in-law Ronald Curtis.

Memorial Gathering will be held Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 1pm-2:30pm at Hoosier Village Chapel (5355 Soapberry Drive, Indianapolis, IN) with a Memorial Service to begin at 2:30pm.  Funeral Services entrusted to Flanner Buchanan – Zionsville.

Memorial contributions may be made to:

Zionsville Food Pantry

4775 W 116th St

Zionsville, IN 46077

To View the Memorial Gathering and Celebration Service please follow this link https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1646187812170089