Karen June (Sanborn) Day

Karen June (Sanborn) Day, 77 of Overland Park, Kansas passed away January 28, 2024. She was born June 29, 1946 in Smith Center, Kansas to Kenneth and Audrey (Kern) Sanborn. She was preceded in death by here parents, brother Larry Sanborn, and sister Sharolyn Riggert.

Karen is survived by her husband Jim, daughter Denise (Jay) Dibble, and granddaughters Anna, Amber and Jane all of Katy, TX. Her sister-in-law, and cheerleader as she fought her fight with cancer, Mauricia (Day) Prosser of Great Bend, KS. Her brother-in-law Roger Riggert, and her sister-in-law Jane Sanborn, and nieces and nephews.

Karen grew up in various cities in Kansas because her father was a city manager. She graduated from Junction City High School. She graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Elementary Education and was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority.

Her first teaching position was in West Chicago, IL as a Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher; she loved the profession and kids. Karen loved animals from riding horses as a child on her Aunt Eva’s farm to her cats Cookie and Squeaky who both lived 21 years. The family always joked that Karen couldn’t raise a plant but she could raise cats.

While her husband relocated with work they lived in Minneapolis, MN, Lakewood, CO, Lenexa, KS, and in Overland Park. Karen raised our daughter Denise; she was room mother and co-director of Vacation Church School.

She also partnered with Jim in the start-up of a new family construction company. Karen truly showed her ability as a person who could change when challenges are presented. With the family business changing she joined as a valuable receptionist who enjoyed meeting and talking to people, then she handled invoicing, payables/receivables, and banking relations. She worked side-by-side with Jim for 25 years.

Karen was a member of Mary’s Circle at Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church. Karen was a devoted member of Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, a supporter of Alphapointe (which serves the blind and low vision needs of people), and believed in Gift of Life organization and was committed to organ and tissue donation upon death. Karen supported the student teacher assistance program at Kansas State University for students in the Early Education program.

Finally, in 2016 she mastered the art of caregiving for Jim while he was a patient. Then in November 2023 their roles changed. She was diagnosed with cancer, and in December started cancer treatment and needed a caregiver. As she passed to heaven she was surrounded by family and friends.

Her family will celebrate her life as Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church at 9300 Nall Ave., in Overland Park, Kansas on Saturday, March 16, at 2:00pm, with a visitation at 1:00pm.

Instead of flowers memorial gifts in Karen’s name can be made to Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, you can do that online by CLICKING HERE , or to the Karen Sanborn Day Scholarship, c/o Dean’s Excellence Fund, #H22025, 006 Bluemont Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506.