Obituary: Karen Schramek April 9, 1951 - December 13, 2025

Karen Schramek was born in Portland Oregon April 9th, 1951 to Maxine and Roland Hayzlett. She grew up close to her older brother Steve, looking after her younger sisters and helping around the house. The family made many memories camping, visiting national parks, and on day trips to the Oregon Coast or Oregon mountain streams. Karen especially enjoyed fishing with her Dad. Karen joined Camp Fire Girls, eventually becoming a camp counselor near Mt. Hood for several summers. Her early experiences with outdoor education sparked a lifelong passion for teaching and working with kids.

Karen graduated from Southern Oregon University and began her career in Petersburg, Alaska, as a high school PE teacher and coach, returned to Oregon for two years, then worked in Petersburg in several jobs including as a secretary with the Forest Service. Karen later settled into a position as an Elementary PE and swim teacher working with many teachers and coaches over the years. Her work built a strong PE program and an innovative swimming program which eventually combined competitive swimming, AMSEA skills, boat safety, ice safety, hypothermia awareness, and CPR skills. Her lessons maximized water time and built in fun time to practice and explore, occasionally surprising students by filling the pool with duck decoys or sinking flowers & dinosaurs. Karen was a firm believer that physical play is essential to healthy development and was an advocate for maintaining a vibrant PE/Swim program in our community. In addition to her work with the school district, Karen taught Red Cross Lifeguard, CPR, and Water Safety Instructor classes and was a professor with University of Southeast from 1995 – 2008 teaching PE teachers across Alaska.

Karen met Jim Schramek in Petersburg while working for the Forest Service, they married in 1978 and had two children: Lisa and Alec. Karen worked hard to support their interests and volunteered in various ways, including: Girl Scout Troop leader, Viking Swim Club stroke-and-turn official, VSC board member, chaperone, and was a secret sponsor to several VSC swimmers.

Summer breaks from teaching were packed with family cabin camping, fishing trips, visiting family, and working on the house and garden. Karen always had hanging baskets to attract hummingbirds, fresh carrots, and a large rhubarb patch. She baked and made special recipes to share with friends and family. On Halloween, she greeted children with Jim's homemade caramel apples and handpopped popcorn.

Every year Karen traveled to Oregon to visit with family. She was a great daughter and sister, keeping in touch with family. Karen was also a great Aunt to her nieces and nephews and prioritized attending weddings, graduations, family reunions and other special events.

In retirement, Karen dove further into genealogy, attending reunions, traveling to explore family history, and visiting family. She volunteered as president of the Mountain View Manor board for several years. Karen was an enthusiastic Grandma who loved relaxing with family and meeting up with friends for coffee.

In June, Karen learned she had pancreatic cancer and battled for more time. She died in Oregon on December 13, 2025, supported by family. She is survived by her sisters, extended family, and her children: Alec Schramek, Lisa Schramek, son-in-law Joshua Adams, and grandson Erik Adams.

A memorial will be held April 25th at 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church Holy Cross House in Petersburg.

Correspondence may be sent to: Lisa Schramek, Box 746, or Alec Schramek, Box 124, Petersburg, AK 99833. In lieu of flowers, please donate to either the Petersburg EMS, PO Box 75 or KFSK, PO Box 149 in Petersburg, AK, 99833.