Memorials › Karen Kay Manka Luft
Karen Kay Manka Luft
15 Jul 1940 – 18 Dec 2023
| Birth | 15 Jul 1940 |
| Death | 18 Dec 2023 |
| Cemetery | Grand Island Cemetery Grand Island , Hall County , Nebraska , USA |
| Added by | Judy Johnson on 21 Dec 2023 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/262429913 |
Bio
Karen Kay Luft, age 83, of Grand Island, passed away Monday, December 18, 2023 at CHI St. Francis Medical Center. A funeral service will be held Thursday, December 28th at 10:30am at All Faiths Funeral Home. Dan Naranjo officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 27th from 5-7 pm at the funeral home. Interment will take place at the Grand Island City Cemetery. Karen was born on July 15, 1940 to Eleanor Grennan and Benjamin Haag, whom was a professor at UNL. Eleanor later married Gerald Manka and Karen was adopted by him. They farmed in rural Hamilton and Merrick Counties, where she attended school, graduating from Chapman High School in 1958. While in school she was active in volleyball, basketball, cheer and drama earning a full ride scholarship to Kearney State College and graduating as Salutatorian. She was united in marriage to William C. Luft in 1959 and to this union were born three children, Lisa K (White), William II and Earl E. They traveled across Nebraska and the United States while William operated heavy equipment and later owned and operated Luft Trucking. Karen enjoyed league bowling for over 30 years and was active in the Eagles FOE and American Legion Aux both for over 50 years. She also competed in and for the Eagles Drill Team. They won back-to-back championships in 1971-1972. Karen worked in accounting and book-keeping at the Wardrobe in downtown Grand Island until it closed. Then at Nebraska Office Service/Office Net for three generations of the same family. Being very hard working she always worked more than one job as a bartender and waitress at the Eagles and the Doniphan American Legion Post #300 which was more than a job to her. She called it her second home. She loved helping people, her animals, flowers and various plants throughout the house, as well as camping. Karen to the end was a very selfless person, putting her friends, family and especially her children before herself. From this instilled family first and excellent work ethic with everyone around her. Karen enjoyed traveling with her group of friends that would travel the US called her "Posse". Those left to cherish her memory daughter, Lisa White (Ronald Dillard) of Grand Island and their children, Kyle, Cameron and Cody; son, William II (Nancy) of St. Libory and their children, Kayla (Nickolas Jones), Alexis, Shelby (Matthew Fecht), William III (Brittany Abrego) and Logan (Brittannie Hollinger); grandson, Tyler E. Luft (Haley); great grandchildren, Kinsley, Hendrix, Bethany, Declan, Carson, Anna, Weston. She is preceded in death by her parents; son, Earl E., sister, Joan Hardekopf and great granddaughter, Hazel Kay Luft.
Photos
Family
Spouse
Children
Export GEDCOM
This person only · Entire connected family