Karen Louise Reinhart VanGilder, 79, of Centralia, passed away on October 27, 2023 at Eastridge Nursing Home in Centralia.

Karen was born on September 14, 1944, in Centralia, to Ellery Lysle Katheryn Maureen Griffiths Reinhart. She grew up on a farm west of Centralia. She attended a one room school house northwest of the family farm. She later went on to graduate from Vermillion High School. Upon graduating from high school, she married the love of her life, Jimmie David VanGilder on January 20, 1963.

After marring, Karen and Jim moved to Little Rock AFB in the Arkansas where Jim was stationed. While at Little Rock they welcomed two children, Justina Joy in 1964 and James Kevin in 1965.

While in the Air Force Karen and Jim traveled to many different bases. They made many life long friendships over the years. In 1981, Jim retired and they moved back to her family farm in Centralia. While the kids were at home, she was a stay home mom and a house wife. Karen had various jobs after the kids were grown. She helped family friends on their farms. She worked at the Centralia Café, Centralia Animal Clinic, Eastridge Nursing Home and Centralia Home Health. She was a hospice worker, and also worked for Little- accounting. She took care of numerous couples cleaning and being a caregiver.

She enjoyed many things during her life. Spending time with her family, pets, her flower garden, birds and the feeders. She loved going to the pond and watching the fish frenzy as they fed them. Her faith and Christian fellowship. She loved going to garage sales and haggling when she could.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lysle and Katheryn Reinhart and granddaughter, Katy Yarger.

She is survived by her husband Jim of the family farm in Centralia, Justina (Dean) Zartman of Centralia and James (Kelly) VanGilder of Olathe, Kansas. Her grandchildren Dawn (Chris) Blewett of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Chris and Syla Yarger of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Karen Zartman of Centralia. James VanGilder and Grace VanGilder both of Olathe, Kansas.

A visitation will be held on October 30, 2023 from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 31, 20232 at 10:30 am at the Centralia Community Church (West) in Centralia. Burial will be followed in the Vermillion Cemetery.

Memorial will be designated at a later date sent in care of the family. To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .