KAREN SUE MEZGER
Karen Sue Mezger, 69, of Table Rock, Nebraska was born on February 9, 1951, in Nebraska City, NE to Carl A. and Alice A. (Crow) Schneider. Karen was the youngest of five children, having 4 older brothers. She attended kindergarten through 7th grade in Peru and then attended 8th -12th grade in Auburn, graduating from Auburn High School with the class of 1969. Karen went on to college at Peru State College to study Home Economics Education, where she ended up meeting the love of her life. On May 13, 1972, Karen was united in marriage to Richard Barry Mezger at the United Methodist Church in Auburn, Nebraska. To this union four children: David, Thomas, Matthew and Katherine were born. The couple began their marriage living in Omaha before moving to Carlstadt, New Jersey, where her husband was born and raised. They lived there for two years near Richard’s family before moving back to Table Rock, Nebraska in 1974 so Richard could join her father and brother, Gary, in operating SM&S Salvage. Karen finished her degree at Peru State College and began her teaching career as a Home Economics teacher for Dawson-Verdon Public Schools until 1979. She took a break from teaching full-time to raise her children from 1979-1995. She returned to Dawson-Verdon as guidance counselor in 1998 and completed her Masters of Science in Education Degree. Karen would later transfer to HTRS Public Schools in 2004, retiring in 2020.
She became a member of the United Methodist Church of Table Rock when she moved to town where she spent many years volunteering as a Youth Group sponsor. She was a member of the Table Rock Community Club, Table Rock Development Board, Table Rock Historical Society, United Methodist Women’s Group, Table Rock Women’s Group, and her favorite ladies M&M Group.
Karen loved her family more than anything. She enjoyed reading, gardening and yard work, sewing, cooking, decorating for holidays and camping.
Karen lost her hard-fought battle with cancer and went to be with her Lord on Wed., Dec. 16, 2020. She is preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Ernest and Alice Mezger and sister-in-law Janet Schneider.
Karen is survived by husband Richard Mezger of Table Rock, children: Dave Mezger (Andrea), Table Rock, Tom Mezger (Leah) of Omaha, Matt Mezger (Julie) of Lincoln, Katie Dietz (Stephen), grandchildren: Preston, Collin and Emery Mezger, Alex, Malcom and Ziggy Mezger, Hudson and Harper Mezger and Kaitlyn, Sawyer and Kinsley Dietz, brothers: Gary Schneider (MaryEllen) of Canby, Ore.; Leland Schneider of Andover, N.H.; Dennis Schneider (Sandy) of Henniker, N.H.; John Schneider (Lynn) of Holyoke, Colo.; brothers-in-law: Ernest Mezger Jr. (Kathy) of Waretown, N.J.; James Mezger (Kathy) of Upper Chichester, PA; and nieces, nephews, relatives and too many friends to count.
A Celebration of Karen’s Life was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tues., Dec. 22, 2020, at the United Methodist Church in Table Rock, with Pastor Dorothy Smith officiating. Service is available on the Wherry Mortuary/Monument Facebook page. Memorials may be given to the Karen Mezger Student Supplies Fund at the State Bank of Table Rock, 402 Houston Street or P.O. Box D, Table Rock, Nebraska 68447.
Condolences can be shared online at www.wherrymortuary.com. Services were entrusted
Services were entrusted to Wherry Mortuary-207 N. Nemaha St-Humboldt, Nebraska 68376 (402) 862-2915.