BOMBER MEMORIAL

KAREN ANN STINSMAN NOWITZKI ~ Class of 1965
June 12, 1947 - January 4, 2022



Karen Ann Stinsman Nowitzki, 74, died on January 4, 2022 in Seattle. Karen was born on June 12, 1947 in Portland, OR to Robert Neil Stinsman and Marjorie Ann Bergsvik Stinsman.

She graduated from Richland's Columbia High School with the Class of 1965. She did well in school and continued her studies at Seattle Pacific College.

Karen was very athletic, and during her 20's was on a traveling semi pro women's softball team.

Most of Karen's career was with the Washington State Department of Transportation beginning as one of the first female highway maintenance technicians, continuing on as a safety officer and retiring from bridge maintenance in 2012.

Karen took time to be a union representative and Labor & Industry inspector plus served in the Army National Guard. Karen was proud to be a trailblazer for women in nontraditional roles. She worked hard to allow others to follow.

She was strong, caring and feisty with a great sense of humor. Karen enjoyed traveling, fishing, sports and her dog, Max.

During the last 10 years, Karen suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with Parkinson's. She answered these challenges by working to become stronger physically and by joining a Parkinson's group. She continued to live as fully as she could and did so with courage, dignity, grace and gratitude. Karen touched many lives and will be missed.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Andrea Nowitzki, of Bellevue, WA; her close friend, Judy Burnstin, of Shoreline, WA; four step-children; her sister, Joyce Stinsman Komac ('68); and brothers: Bruce Stinsman ('68), Randy Stinsman and Jeff Stinsman (HHS'75); along with nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Nowitzki, of Renton, WA in 2016.

A celebration of Karen's life will be held on what would have been her 75th birthday on June 12, 2022 at her sister's, Joyce Komac's, home in Everett, WA.

Cremation arrangements are through Harvey Funeral Home in Seattle, WA.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).