Karlene French

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Karlene Jo French, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. Karlene departed this world on January 15th, 2025, at her home in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the age of 78.

Born on September 13th, 1946, in Imperial, Nebraska, to parents Thomas & Cleo (Denbo) Wickizer, Karlene grew up in Sodtown near Palisade, Nebraska, where she graduated high school. After graduation, she continued her education in Omaha before starting a family that would bless her with five amazing daughters. As a young woman, Karlene provided a home for her children as they moved throughout the country, including stops in Illinois, Kansas, and New Mexico.

In 1982, she moved back to Palisade with her daughters, where she worked tirelessly to support her family as a single mother by providing aid to the elderly. A few years later, she would give birth to her only son, eventually moving further east to settle in Oxford, Nebraska. For many years she worked at Artistic Woven Labels in Holdrege, and in 1997 she would retire and move to Lincoln to help care for her grandchildren.

Music was central in her life with countless memories made singing songs with her family, and no session was complete without a few songs by Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash. She was competitive and always enjoyed a good card game or athletic event. In her youth, she participated in various sports such as softball and bowling. That love of sports would carry on into her later years, where she would spend countless hours cheering (or cursing) on her children and the Huskers. You never had to wonder where she was in the stands. She was also deeply patriotic; no amount of struggle or strife could shake her faith in the Stars and Stripes.

Nothing was more important to Karlene than family, and she would dedicate her life to sacrificing everything she had to ensure her family was taken care of. She loved and fought with every ounce of her being, fiercely loyal to those she cared about.

Karlene was preceded in death by her parents; siblings Ted, Beverly, Gordon, and Linda; infant granddaughter Katrina; sons-in-law Jerry Wissink and John Galaviz.

She is survived by her children, Peri Wissink, Seven (Josh) Schilke, Tara Galaviz, Shadi French, Misty (William) Dryden, and Tom (Jessica) Hughes; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and her sister Sherry Wright.

A celebration of life will be held on January 21st, 2025, at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home (5200 R St, Lincoln, NE) at 11:00 AM. Meal and beverages will be served afterwards.