Obituary of Karen Lee Ginsberg

Karen (Kimball) Ginsberg had an amazing gift with young children. As a grandmother, a mom, an aunt, a sister, and a lifelong early-childhood educator, she shared her love and infectious playful energy with hundreds of lucky children. Raising her three boys in Dallas, Texas, she always ensured the family home was the place where her children's friends preferred to gather, and where all were welcome without question or judgement. Proudly independent and setting her own fashion norms, her wardrobe was dazzlingly sequined and brightly colored, much like the love she shared with those in her life.

Born and raised in Haverhill, Massachusetts, Karen attended nearby Brandeis University where her love of teaching blossomed, graduating in 1971 with a degree in Psychology and Special Education. She spent her first post-collegiate months teaching autistic children and motorcycling around Sydney, Australia, an adventure she always loved to retell. She dedicated her early career to special education, working with developmentally delayed and mentally ill children at institutions in Austin, New York, and Atlanta. Karen was married to Michael Ginsberg, her best friend from Brandeis, from 1973 to 2005, and they raised their three sons Jeremiah, Joshua, and Justin in Dallas, Texas.

In 1993, as her sons grew beyond their early-childhood years, Karen began a distinguished 25-year career teaching 3rd grade at the Episcopal School of Dallas, where she shaped the hearts and minds of hundreds of students. Ever fun and independent-minded, she was notorious for furnishing her classroom with a claw-foot bathtub full of stuffed animals.

Karen met Steve Warren in 2010 and began a new chapter of her life. They enjoyed numerous cruises and trips around Europe together, where Karen tried new adventures like ziplining in Alaska and ballooning in Prague. In 2018, Karen and Steve married and retired to Aurora, Colorado, where they enjoyed hosting visitors and walks in their neighborhood with their rescue dog, Sunny.

Karen was over-the-moon delighted to become a grandmother in 2015, and she cherished spending time with her two granddaughters. They basked in her infectious energy, adored her warm hugs, and loved her creative funny games.

Karen Ginsberg passed away at the age of 72 on August 7, 2021. She is survived by her loving husband, Steve Warren, and her siblings, children, and grandchildren. Karen's children will love and miss her dearly for all of their days: Jeremiah Ginsberg, and his wife Kristin; Joshua Ginsberg, and his wife Jennifer Nicoliasen; Justin Ginsberg; and Jason Warren. Karen also leaves behind two granddaughters, Eliana Ginsberg and Livia Ginsberg, who will always look for her at the end of the rainbow. She is survived by two of her siblings: Sandra Kimball, and her husband Donald Fraser; and David Kimball, and his wife Claudia. Karen was predeceased by her brother, Steven W. Kimball; her mother, Elizabeth Ross; her father, Edward Kimball; and her stepmother, Patricia Kimball.

Her memorial service will be held on Friday, August 13, 2021 at 1:00pm at the Feldman Mortuary in Denver, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to honor her memory to: SeekHealing in North Carolina, or Khan Academy in California.