Karen Elizabeth Nissen

Karen Elizabeth Nissen, 83, of Kansas City, MO, passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2024.  She passed peacefully at home with family around her as she wanted.  She had an incurable brain disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy which incapacitated her for the last two years. She lived life to its fullest up to that point and wished for all of us to carry on with much love!

A Memorial Celebration and meal following will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 4:00pm at Good Shepherd Community of Christ Church, 4341 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO  64133.  

Karen was born July 21, 1941 in Willoughby, Ohio, to Balmer Scott and Elizabeth Ann “Betty” (White) Liston.  She graduated from Harvey High School in Painesville, OH, obtained an Associate of Arts from Graceland College, and a Bachelor of Arts in food and nutrition from Iowa State. She married Merrill Edward Nissen on September 1, 1963 in Kirtland, OH.  They moved to Kansas City in 1965.   Karen stayed at home to raise their four children and returned to the workforce in the late 1980s. She returned to her nutrition specialty working for Harvesters and later for the University of Missouri Extension Program teaching nutrition. She was much beloved until her retirement in 2006.

Karen loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, as well as attending their sporting and performance events throughout her life. She loved cooking wonderful food for her family and hosting family gatherings.  She believed in supporting her community and those less fortunate and instilled these values in those she touched.  She was a tireless worker in whatever she involved herself in.  She relished the times spent with her friends and creating magical parties for her closest friends.  She was a collector of fine art and enjoyed every holiday.  She was known to decorate her home immaculately for every season and holiday.  She was a Master Gardener and loved the beauty of nature. This included the caretaking of many a stray animal who wandered into her care!  Many cats, dogs and birds have Karen to thank for their long lives.  She also was quite a sports buff – rooting on our Chiefs and Royals for decades, and following golf, soccer, and college football and basketball.  She very much enjoyed watching the recent Olympics.  Lastly, she was a great lover of fireworks displays and made great efforts to enjoy them up until the end.  One of her last requests was to have fireworks at her memorial service!

Karen was preceded in death by her parents.  She is survived by her husband, Merrill Nissen of Kansas City, MO; her children – Michelle (Dana) Cunningham of Lee’s Summit, MO, Scott (Jaime) Nissen of Blue Springs, MO, Dan (Takako) Nissen of Overland Park, KS, Steve Nissen of Blue Springs, MO; her grandchildren, Christian Nissen of Blue Springs, MO, Corey (Antonella) Marcks of North Kansas City, MO, Emma Cunningham of Everett, MA, Ryan Cunningham of Lee’s Summit, MO, Kyle Nissen of Los Angeles, CA, Kiara Nissen of Overland Park, KS, her brother, Theodore Liston of Fairfield, CA; nephews – Greg Liston of Fairfield, CA, Steve (Jennifer) Hayes-Liston of Vancouver, WA; and grand-niece Rowan Hayes-Liston of Vancouver, WA.

Donations in her memory may be made to Harvesters (https://www.harvesters.org) or Community of Christ (https://cofchrist.org/usa/).  Flowers and potted plants in her honor may be sent to Good Shepherd Community of Christ Church, 4341 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO  64133, for delivery after 2:00pm on November 23, 2024.