Karol was born in Iron Mountain, Michigan April 24,
1938. She moved to Liberty with her parents in 1952 with a strong “northern”
accent that definitely caught some attention. She graduated from Liberty High
School in 1956 where she participated in FHA ‘53; Girls Glee Club ‘53-‘56; Girls
Sextet ‘55-‘56; Acapella Choir ‘55-‘56; Librarian ‘55; Spectator Salesman ‘55;
Spectator Co-Advertising Manager ‘56; Pep Club ‘54-‘56; and Phi Nu Phi Sorority.
It was at the age of 15 Karol took the first steps to her future career in
Nursing when she became a Candy Striper at Research Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
Every weekend she would take the two buses by herself to volunteer her time
working side by side with the medical staff. A close classmate wrote in her
junior yearbook, “May your nursing career be a success, you will be great help
to those many people who need someone like you, who is so completely dedicated
to their work. And I admire you for your choice of work, because it takes a
great love for humanity and a big heart. You have both.” After graduating from
high school Karol entered Augustana Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago,
Illinois. She would take her course load in the mornings, have hands on
experience working in the hospital in the afternoons, and that left time for
studying at night and over the weekends. She graduated with lifelong friendships
with the class of 1959. “The secret of success is consistency to purpose.” What
followed was a forty-year career in Nursing. She started by working for Doctors
Hendren, Bowles, and Adams in their office in Liberty, MO. Then she worked at
North Kansas City Hospital in NKC, MO as a floor Nurse working nights and
weekends. And finally in 1973 she was hired as part of the pre-opening staff at
Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO. For the first twelve years as a Registered
Nurse, Critical Care Registered Nurse, Karol worked in the Intensive
Care/Coronary Care and Critical Care units. She was then approached to create
the pre-surgery testing program as their Admitting Nurse. A program that is
still used today. She retired after twenty-five years of service at Liberty
Hospital on April 2,1999. She liked to say she came with the building, and she
was very proud of being a part of the Liberty Hospital family. She took great
pride in taking care of people. Nursing is a calling, a way of life. Nursing is
a service profession that cannot be lived in isolation. Nurses rely on each
other for the synergistic effort of teamwork in their efforts for care giving.
Karol will not be remembered for just being a Nurse, but forever she will be
remembered for the difference she made during those years by stepping into
people’s lives when they needed a light through the storm.
She Was There
(A Nightingale Tribute)
“When a calming, quiet presence was all that was needed, She was there.
In the excitement and miracle of birth or in the mystery and loss of life, She
was there.
When a silent glance could uplift a patient, family member or friend, She was
there.
At those times when the unexplainable needed to be explained, She was there.
When the situation demanded a swift foot and sharp mind, She was there.
When a gentle touch, a firm push, or an encouraging word was needed, She was
there.
In choosing the best one from a family’s “Thank You” box of chocolates, She was
there.
To witness humanity—its beauty, in good times and bad, without judgment, She was
there.
To embrace the woes of the world, willingly, and offer hope, She was there
And now, that it is time to be at the Greater One’s side, She is there.”
~ 2004 Duane Jaeger, RN, MSN
