Karen was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and graduated from Greenway High School in 1961 and then went on to attend and graduate from Itasca Junior College, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Karen married Raymond Tomberlin. They celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary before Karen's passing. To this union four children were born; Rhaya, Justin, Shea, and M'Kelle. Karen also has three brothers, Stephen, Gregory, and Michael.
Upon graduation, Karen, or "Mrs.T", as she was affectionately called by her students, accepted a teaching-coaching position at her alma mater, Greenway High School. At the time of her death, she had been the volleyball and track coach for Greenway for 21 years. She also taught health and physical education at Greenway. Karen's coaching skills led Greenway to two state Championships in volleyball and track, winning the championship in volleyball in 1985 and track in 1983. Karen always preached that "Attitude makes the difference". She was vivacious, giving, full of energy, and had lots of spirit!
During her career, she was voted Minnesota coach of the year twice, first in 1983 for Greenway girls track team, then in 1985 for volleyball. She was also "Region 7A Coach of the Year" three times in each sport. After her death, Karen received a posthumous award in 1995 and was the recipient of the "Breaking Barriers" award for leadership. The gymnasium at Greenway High School was renamed the "Karen Tomberlin Gymnasium" in honor of "Mrs. T.", a much beloved and very special teacher.
In 1990, Karen sought custody of Sharon Kowalski who played high school volleyball for Karen and was in an auto accident in 1983 that left her brain damaged and a quadriplegic. She was awarded guardianship of Kowalski in the state district court in 1991, but was later denied custody by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Karen was initially diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes and breast cancer in May of 1993. The cancer then spread to her brain. Karen passed away due to complications of an inoperable brain tumor, but she never lost her positive attitude and spirit. She passed away at her home in Coleraine, which was her wish.
Karen was a stickler about giving out her age. She wouldn't even give it out for the Census and even members of her family weren't completely sure of her age. She was also notorious for being late and had requested that her funeral be started a half an hour late, which it was.
Mother's maiden name was Kreis.
Upon graduation, Karen, or "Mrs.T", as she was affectionately called by her students, accepted a teaching-coaching position at her alma mater, Greenway High School. At the time of her death, she had been the volleyball and track coach for Greenway for 21 years. She also taught health and physical education at Greenway. Karen's coaching skills led Greenway to two state Championships in volleyball and track, winning the championship in volleyball in 1985 and track in 1983. Karen always preached that "Attitude makes the difference". She was vivacious, giving, full of energy, and had lots of spirit!
During her career, she was voted Minnesota coach of the year twice, first in 1983 for Greenway girls track team, then in 1985 for volleyball. She was also "Region 7A Coach of the Year" three times in each sport. After her death, Karen received a posthumous award in 1995 and was the recipient of the "Breaking Barriers" award for leadership. The gymnasium at Greenway High School was renamed the "Karen Tomberlin Gymnasium" in honor of "Mrs. T.", a much beloved and very special teacher.
In 1990, Karen sought custody of Sharon Kowalski who played high school volleyball for Karen and was in an auto accident in 1983 that left her brain damaged and a quadriplegic. She was awarded guardianship of Kowalski in the state district court in 1991, but was later denied custody by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Karen was initially diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes and breast cancer in May of 1993. The cancer then spread to her brain. Karen passed away due to complications of an inoperable brain tumor, but she never lost her positive attitude and spirit. She passed away at her home in Coleraine, which was her wish.
Karen was a stickler about giving out her age. She wouldn't even give it out for the Census and even members of her family weren't completely sure of her age. She was also notorious for being late and had requested that her funeral be started a half an hour late, which it was.
Mother's maiden name was Kreis.
Karen was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and graduated from Greenway High School in 1961 and then went on to attend and graduate from Itasca Junior College, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Karen married Raymond Tomberlin. They celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary before Karen's passing. To this union four children were born; Rhaya, Justin, Shea, and M'Kelle. Karen also has three brothers, Stephen, Gregory, and Michael.
Upon graduation, Karen, or "Mrs.T", as she was affectionately called by her students, accepted a teaching-coaching position at her alma mater, Greenway High School. At the time of her death, she had been the volleyball and track coach for Greenway for 21 years. She also taught health and physical education at Greenway. Karen's coaching skills led Greenway to two state Championships in volleyball and track, winning the championship in volleyball in 1985 and track in 1983. Karen always preached that "Attitude makes the difference". She was vivacious, giving, full of energy, and had lots of spirit!
During her career, she was voted Minnesota coach of the year twice, first in 1983 for Greenway girls track team, then in 1985 for volleyball. She was also "Region 7A Coach of the Year" three times in each sport. After her death, Karen received a posthumous award in 1995 and was the recipient of the "Breaking Barriers" award for leadership. The gymnasium at Greenway High School was renamed the "Karen Tomberlin Gymnasium" in honor of "Mrs. T.", a much beloved and very special teacher.
In 1990, Karen sought custody of Sharon Kowalski who played high school volleyball for Karen and was in an auto accident in 1983 that left her brain damaged and a quadriplegic. She was awarded guardianship of Kowalski in the state district court in 1991, but was later denied custody by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Karen was initially diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes and breast cancer in May of 1993. The cancer then spread to her brain. Karen passed away due to complications of an inoperable brain tumor, but she never lost her positive attitude and spirit. She passed away at her home in Coleraine, which was her wish.
Karen was a stickler about giving out her age. She wouldn't even give it out for the Census and even members of her family weren't completely sure of her age. She was also notorious for being late and had requested that her funeral be started a half an hour late, which it was.
Mother's maiden name was Kreis.
Upon graduation, Karen, or "Mrs.T", as she was affectionately called by her students, accepted a teaching-coaching position at her alma mater, Greenway High School. At the time of her death, she had been the volleyball and track coach for Greenway for 21 years. She also taught health and physical education at Greenway. Karen's coaching skills led Greenway to two state Championships in volleyball and track, winning the championship in volleyball in 1985 and track in 1983. Karen always preached that "Attitude makes the difference". She was vivacious, giving, full of energy, and had lots of spirit!
During her career, she was voted Minnesota coach of the year twice, first in 1983 for Greenway girls track team, then in 1985 for volleyball. She was also "Region 7A Coach of the Year" three times in each sport. After her death, Karen received a posthumous award in 1995 and was the recipient of the "Breaking Barriers" award for leadership. The gymnasium at Greenway High School was renamed the "Karen Tomberlin Gymnasium" in honor of "Mrs. T.", a much beloved and very special teacher.
In 1990, Karen sought custody of Sharon Kowalski who played high school volleyball for Karen and was in an auto accident in 1983 that left her brain damaged and a quadriplegic. She was awarded guardianship of Kowalski in the state district court in 1991, but was later denied custody by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Karen was initially diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes and breast cancer in May of 1993. The cancer then spread to her brain. Karen passed away due to complications of an inoperable brain tumor, but she never lost her positive attitude and spirit. She passed away at her home in Coleraine, which was her wish.
Karen was a stickler about giving out her age. She wouldn't even give it out for the Census and even members of her family weren't completely sure of her age. She was also notorious for being late and had requested that her funeral be started a half an hour late, which it was.
Mother's maiden name was Kreis.
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Records on Ancestry
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U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
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Minnesota, U.S., Birth Index, 1935-2000
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Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017
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Web: Minnesota, U.S., Marriages from the Minnesota Official Marriage System, 1850-2022
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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