Karen was born April 21, 1943, in Creighton, Missouri, the youngest of the three children (LaDon and Ray) of Paul Pullen and Lucille (Wells) Pullen. Her parents divorced when she was a toddler. Lucille took the children to live with her mother in Gooding, Idaho for a spell where Karen remembered antelope looking in the window and snowdrifts taller than she was. They returned to Creighton where her mother married James Shelten, Karen’s much loved “Dad”. While she was in school, she was a Majorette, played piano, and participated in volleyball and basketball. She graduated from Creighton High School and attended Central Missouri State College, where she majored in business and math.
She married Ray Heidebrecht and lived near Topeka, Kansas, where her children were born. After their divorce, Karen brought the children to grow up in Harrisonville, Missouri. In 1991, Karen married Jim Timble of Chicago and became the proud stepmom to his four sons, Mike, Steve, Jimmy and Bobby Timble and their families. They moved to Franklin Grove, Illinois, where they bought a home in the woods, known as “Woodsmoke”, They loved adding to the home and adding more acres to feed and enjoy the wildlife. They provided a haven for stray cats, birds and orphaned wildlife. They lived there until May 28, when they left for Mayo to continue their battle with cancer, expecting to return home in a week. Jim died at Mayo on June 2nd after unexpected complications from surgery. Karen remained as a patient at Mayo for two months, with daughter and husband at her bedside the entire time. She then transferred to Carnegie Village Rehab Center, Belton, and later went under Hospice care in late August. She moved into her daughter’s home in Creighton to live out her last days surrounded by loved ones. Both faced health issues for several years, while continuing to enjoy travel, winters in Florida, fishing in Wisconsin, family, friends and each other.
Karen had a successful and productive career, facing challenges head-on, as she did all her life events. She started as an accounting clerk in Kansas City and by 1989 she was a Manager of New Business and Customer Service. She then worked for USA, headquartered in Dallas, TX where she was a Project Manager and Business Analyst. She was hired away by a competitor, Universal Conversion Technologies, and by her retirement was a Senior Consultant and Project Manager. She became a “Boss Lady” when there weren’t many and was respected and trusted by those who worked with and for her. She formed lifelong friendships wherever she worked. Karen and Jim frequently traveled for their jobs, but when apart they always shared a 10pm Chicago-time phone call.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, spouse, infant twins David and William, son Georgie and brother Ray Pullen. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Susan (Matthew) Nelson, James (Sally) Heidebrecht, grandchildren Alex and Kate Heidebrecht and great-great grandson, Nickolas, as well as her four beloved stepsons and families, Mike Timble, Martina Brockway and children Rumeur and Kayin; Steve Timble, Julia Kim and children Veronica and Luca; Jimmy Timble, Michele Timble and twins Kate and Jack; and Bobby Timble, Lynn Timble and daughter Alexandra. She is also survived by her sister, LaDon (Gordon Haney) Brennan and “Little Sis”, Maureen (Frank) Ayler, niece Arliss (Steve) Gant, great niece Vanessa (Kyle) Kramer.
Visitation will be at 10 am, Sept 28, 2024, at Dickey Funeral Homes, 2401 E. Mechanic St., Harrisonville, MO., with a service at 11 am, conducted by Pastor Jenny Wilson, followed by a procession to the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri, for a brief graveside service and interment.
The family thanks the many friends who formed prayer circles, called Karen and have been so supportive of the family. A special thanks to staff of Just Like Family Comfort Care for their excellent and compassionate care of Karen and her family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Sherwood Community Center, Just Like Family Comfort Care or a charity of choice. Contributions may be mailed to or left at the Dickey Funeral Home.
