Karen Joan Bouman

December 31, 1946-January 27, 2025

Karen Joan Bouman "Nana" of Lompoc, California, passed away at home on January 27, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family. She was beautiful, strong, courageous, and a true fighter against endometrial and colon cancer.

Karen was born in Hollywood, California on New Year's Eve, the daughter of Charles and Marguerite "Pat" (Calder) Shoemaker. Karen graduated from Marywood High School in 1964 with a class of 99 young women. She attended her 60th class reunion last October and enjoyed catching up.

Karen married Richard Thomas Bouman "Bo", on November 18, 1967 at St. Juliana's Catholic Church in Fullerton, California. Karen and Richard started their married life living in Diamond Bar and Montclair before moving to Lompoc in 1977.

While raising their three daughters, Karen attended Allan Hancock College being part of the first Medical Assisting class to test in Pasadena where all students passed their certification. She also used her vast knowledge of Latin to teach Medical Terminology at AHC. She first worked for Dr. Bruce Daniels in Santa Maria, then Dr. Bernard Weinstock, and finally at Sansum Medical Foundation Clinic from which she retired in 2013.

In her spare time, Karen loved gardening, cross-stitching, traveling, and spending time with her people. She loved her Red Hat Ladies, Bunco Girls, and being treasurer for the Lompoc Antique Auto Club. Nana held a special place in her heart for all her "adopted" children and grandchildren she picked up through the years. Nana was a woman who touched all. She was an amazing wife, mom, grandma, and friend to whoever needed her.

Karen is survived by her husband, Richard, daughters Cheryl (Rob) Zablow, Sandy Bouman, and Carol Bouman; grandchildren, Jordan Schneider, Madison Sokolski, Connor Zablow, Zach Schneider, Jesse Munoz, Adriana Gonzales-Bouman, and Rudy Munoz; great-grandsons, Thomas Sokolski and Cypress Falba-Munoz; sisters, Patricia Harrington, Jeanne (Morrie) Gates, and brother, Charlie (Patricia) Shoemaker; four nieces and a nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, parents-in-law Thomas and Pearl Bouman, and brother-in-law Daniel Harrington.

Services are at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary on Friday, February 7, 2025 with a short viewing starting at 11:30am, remembrances at noon with a reception to follow at Events Mission Valley 1:00-4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. At Mom's request, please wear colors or flowers, "no black".