Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Karen Warmke spent her life embracing all the joys life has to offer.

She filled her 64 years with music, dancing, travel, and the friends and family she loved. Karen passed away on March 10, 2021 from complications of a brain aneurysm rupture. But her legacy of finding the beauty and joy in life lives on.

Karen was born May 5, 1956 in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of Lee and Marilyn Woodmansee and the sister of Tom and Lynn. The family later moved to Cambridge, Wisconsin, where Karen graduated high school in 1974. She was a 1978 graduate of UW-Eau Claire and, after teaching special education, she completed her master’s degree in Health and Wellness. In 1985, Karen married Steve and together they made Janesville their home. Karen was an educator, not only in the classroom but also in so many aspects of life. She was a familiar face through all the years her kids - Rachel and Luke - were in school, attending every piano recital, presentation, and sporting event. She was a passionate advocate for the American Cancer Society, especially after her own battle with breast cancer.

Karen led by example, teaching many around her that life should be pursued with great gusto. If there was a beach or ocean in sight, you would be sure to find her there - feet in the sand, eyes scanning the horizon for any whale or dolphin sightings.

That was the thing about Karen - she was always the person you wanted to do adventures with. Whether it was enjoying drinks on the porch, a spontaneous kayaking adventure, or a weekend getaway, she had a zest for life that was infectious. She’d get that glint in her eye and you knew a new idea was brewing...

We feel profoundly blessed to have had so many years with Karen, who taught us to always celebrate life, to never miss an opportunity for coconut cream pie, and to fill our lives with the people and adventures that bring us the most joy.

We hope this memorial page will serve to raise awareness and donations for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, in Karen’s memory. If you are willing to make a donation, please click “Donate Now.”

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the world's only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.

All proceeds go towards:

• Funding and supporting new research.
• Providing support and educational materials to the medical community, the newly diagnosed, survivors, family members, friends and the general public regarding the facts, treatment options, and recovery process for brain aneurysms.
• Increasing awareness of brain aneurysms by promoting National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in September and by distributing aneurysm awareness materials to Emergency Departments in every hospital and to the community.

With your support, we can start making a real investment to help fight the devastation caused by brain aneurysms and save lives. All donations are tax-deductible and every dollar raised goes to help support the mission of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

If you cannot make a donation at this time, please feel free to forward this e-mail and link to friends and family. Post this on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Every donation counts, no matter what the amount.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.