Karen Aune Wardner

Karen Aune Wardner, 65, Mandan, formerly of Bismarck, died April 4, 2016, at Sanford Health, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, April 8, at First Lutheran Church, 408 9th St. NW, Mandan, with Rev. Lee Herberg officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Thursday, April 7, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Karen Ann Aune Wardner, was born on July 2, 1950 in Bismarck, ND. She was the daughter of Eugene and Eleanore (Neumann) Aune. Raised on a small farm south of Bismarck, Karen attended a two-room schoolhouse for her first six school years, Lincoln School #1, then Simle Junior High. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1968. Karen attended Bismarck Hospital School of Nursing, became a registered nurse and for nearly 45 years spent her working career under one roof, making the transitions from Bismarck Hospital to Med Center One Hospital to Sandford Medical Center. In 1971, Karen married Robert Wardner. They had two children, Jennifer and John. Their home was filled with laughter and joy; family fun, hunting and fishing together were important elements to their “loud love”. Tragically, Robert died in a farming accident in 1987. Karen devoted herself to her children and to work. Throughout the years, Karen had a cadre of friends and co-workers who enriched her life. She became involved with the “Lure ‘Em for Life” fishing camp, providing opportunities for kids to learn and for the big kids (adult volunteers) to play. Playing cards, fishing, dancing, cooking and baking were all activities that Karen enjoyed. Since the spring of 1992, Karen has had a cabin at Brush Lake, a “get away” that she filled with friends and family. This was truly a happy place for her and all who shared it with her. Best of all was the time spent with her grandchildren, Shayla and Alec. Whether it was listening to them laughing over a game, shrieking with glee as they teased or just hanging out, Karen took delight in being their grandmother. Karen is survived by her children; Jennifer (Kenny) Heck of Mandan, and John (Betsy Keller), her grandchildren; Shayla Heck and Alec Wardner, her sisters; Pat Aune, Mary Lou Aune, and Beth (Johnathan) Campbell, her beloved cat; Ellie, a large extended family and many loving friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, and her parents Eugene and Eleanore Aune. Karen took great interest in the work of Carrie's Kids, a local effort to assist at-risk chilren. Your memorials to this effort would be appreciated. Send gifts to: Carrie's Kids, 1223 South 12 Street, Suite 3, Bismarck, ND, 58504.