Karen Sue Hofmann

  Karen Sue (Brown) Hofmann passed away peacefully at her home in Wamego, Kansas on May 13, 2025, at the age of 75, following a short battle with cancer.

  Susie was born on April 11,1950 in Westmoreland, Kansas to John and Laura (Enlow) Brown, the eldest of two daughters. As a young girl she and her family moved often as an active military family; she attended kindergarten in Germany and learned to ice skate in Wisconsin. In 1968 she graduated from Wamego High School, where she was active in all things choir. Soon after, she welcomed her three daughters, Jayme, Jenn, and Jill, in quick succession.

  She began her work life at Wamego City Hospital. She met and married John Hofmann in February of 1978 and moved the whole family to St. George. They planted a massive garden each year, raised pigs, loved to camp, went to many, many drive-in movies in the green or yellow Volkswagen bug, and truly enjoyed the country life until they moved back to Wamego when John became the Chief of Police.

  Sue began working for Dining Services at K-State as a culinary leader in 1985. Her passion for cooking made this work so enjoyable and she was invited to participate in a few culinary competitions complete with her own set of knives and chef coat. After the girls were grown, and after Sue and John had divorced, she retired from K-State in 2012 and began working part time at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart would again prove to be a great fit for outgoing Susie. Many a friend would appear each day to say hello or to have a quick chat. She would continue at Wal-Mart until she was needed to care for her mother full-time.

  If you truly knew Sue or even had a short chat with her, you knew her family was her absolute joy in life. She could often be found cheering on her grandchildren at football or softball games or at dance or gymnastics events; she loved to cook and fish with them, too. She is survived by her three daughters, Jayme Reid (Bilal) of Alabama, Jenn McCown (Greg) of Kansas, and Jill Rush (Mike) of Colorado; her six beloved grandchildren, Branden Hofmann (Kim), Vanessa Smith (Tanner), Jenna McCown, Nate McCown, Cate Rush, and Ben Rush; and six great-grandchildren, Kingston, Darion John, and Rylee (Branden and Kim); Ollie (Vanessa and Tanner); Paisleigh and Norah (Jenna); her step brother, Lonnie Anderson and wife, Melinda, of Arizona; and her nieces Wendy Murphy and Marilyn Ortega.

  She is preceded in death by her parents, John Brown and Laura Crabs, and sister, Kathy Love.

  A celebration of life will be held on June 6, 2025, 10:30 am, at the Campenella & Stewart Funeral Home, 4370 Salzer Road, Wamego, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Hospice Support Foundation at hospicesupportfoundation.org (see the donate button) or mailed to the address below in Karen Sue Hofmann’s name; please specify Riley and Pottawatomie counties. The family would like to send our love and appreciation to Kirstie and Rose of St. Croix Hospice; they took the utmost care of Sue in her last week of life; we won’t soon forget you.

  Hospice Support Foundation, 1175 Centre Pointe Circle, Mendota Heights, MN, 55120.