Karen Bottorff
**Please note day and time of services**
Karen J. Bottorff, age 76, of Quincy, died on Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Quincy Senior Living and Healthcare. She was born on April 8, 1947 in Hannibal, MO the daughter of Joseph and Mildred (Sohn) Sarver. She married Lowell Bottorff on November 11, 2004. He survives.
Karen was a Spanish teacher in the Quincy Public School system for over 40 years until her retirement. She was of the Christian Faith.
Mom’s hobby was her family. The time spent with her family was her favorite. She loved pool parties and having family and friends over. Spending time with those she loved was her greatest joy.
In addition to her husband, Karen is also survived by:
HER MOTHER: Mildred Sarver
HER DAUGHTER: Andrea Fisher and her husband Jimmy of Quincy
STEP-CHILDREN: Brett Bottorff and his wife Amy of Loraine, IL and Marcy Seiz and her husband Eric of Springfield, IL.
GRANDCHILDREN: Gage Elston and Morgan Elston
STEP-GRANDCHILDREN: Addy Bottorff and Averyawna Seiz; Hailey, McKenzie, Addison, and Ellianna Fisher.
ONE Brother: Steve Sarver and his wife Martha.
Numerous other relatives also survive.
Karen was preceded in death by her father.
A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 10:00 Am in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. A Private family inurnment will take place at Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, MO. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 19, 2024 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Charity of the Donor’s Choice.
Karen was a Great Lady, & will be miss by all who know her, Prayers to her whole Family. RiP Karen
She was like a big sister to me and used to say I was her little sister. Will miss her laugh and great voice. Love you to the moon and back!❤️ God got a great angel!
Great teacher, with a wonderful personality. Always enjoyed her class.
Karen was one of the Sweetest, best teachers at QHS. Her smile could light up an entire room. She always was a caring person. She was a treasure to all who knew her and will be missed by many. Prayers to the family.
Andrea, I remember the great times your mom and you and Jennifer and I had when we did Spanish Summer Camp. Your mom was one awesome lady. I hadn’t been in touch for several years, since i moved out of the area, but I know you will carry on the beautiful legacy she left you. God bless you and your family, sweet Andrea.
Hands down, the most fun I experienced in classroom learning! She was such a giving and caring person who left a lifetime warm and positive impression on me. My prayers for her family…
She was an amazing teacher and mentor! Definitely one absolute fireball! Loved her spunk! She will be missed.
One of my favorite memories will always be sitting outside by her pool with her, Andrea, and Shelly. We were looking at the clouds. We saw clouds that looked like a stairway to heaven. Every time we ran into each other after I moved away she always asked if I remembered that day. I loved that it was just a special to her too Karen was such a special person who holds a huge place in my heart. My sympathy to Andrea and the rest of her family. I know it’s a huge loss.
Ms Wittler was one of a kind. I truly mean this…. She was my favorite teacher and a wonderful lady and friend. Thank you for being you. You touched many lives, in the greatest way.
She was my Spanish teacher, always lead the class with kindness and joy. I don’t remember much Spanish but she I do remember how she made me feel. Thanks for sharing her with us. Class of 2009
A very loved and caring teacher. Comfort and peace to the family.
One of the best teachers I ever had. She was such a sweet, fun and overall great person. She will be missed.
I will never forget Ms. Wittler. She was such a wonderful teacher and person. Rest in Heaven. My thoughts and Prayers go out to her friends and family.
Karen was my Sunday school teacher at South Side Christian Church. As I am older we still would run in each other we’d hug! She was a special person in my heart. Prayers go out to her sweet momma and brother Steve and to all the rest of her family!
I will always remember Karen as she was my Spanish teacher in junior high school. I went on and took 2 more years of Spanish. I used to always tease karen, as back then she was miss Streeter, that with her blond hair, she looked like country music singer “LYNN ANDERSON” the country singer who sang ROSE GARDEN. She used to laugh alot about that, but she really did. Also she did a Shirley tempo skit in a staff show back in Jr. High school and she sang and danced to GOOD SHIP, LOLLY POP. I even got up out of my seat and took a picture of her as I was her student back then. She was so very nice as a friend and teacher. My Spanish name she gave me was PACO. She will be greatly missed.
RIP Karen. You were an absolute pleasure to work with at QHS. Your students loved your classroom and your happy go lucky attitude.
She was the best teacher I ever had for Spanish. I just loved her! She always had a smile on her face and always happy. She will definitely be missed.
I was her TA my senior year (92) and she was the reason I became a Spanish teacher. She was always genuinely kind and loved life. Her personality was so vibrant- she will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Karen was a great friend, like a sister, and the sweetest and most loving person I’ve met!!!! Grew up on the south side of Hannibal and went to Southside Christian Church together. Many good memories from there!
Worked together at the Emporium in downtown Hannibal. Our families were good friends, too. She sang at my wedding. I truly believe she’s in Heaven now because she loved God with all her heart!!!
I was always blessed when I ran into Karen, because we had a great bond in our Savior, Jesus Christ. She always encouraged me!
I will miss seeing her. I was never privileged to meet her Mother, but she always spoke so sweetly about her. My husband Melvin & I send our sympathy and prayers to her family.
I grew up with Karen. We went through grade school together. Her family was a very special family. She was one of us kids who lived on the Southside and we all were very close net. ShShe was always such a sweet person and always had a smile on her face. My prayers go out to her mother Millie, her brother Steve, and her family.
Karen was my Spanish teacher in the mid-70’s. I enjoyed her class. She had a gift for teaching and was loved and respected by all her students. Karen was a ray of sunlight, a God-fearing woman, an absolute joy to be around. I remember her deep faith in the Lord and her love for people. What a lasting impression she left on my life. My prayers to her family.
Andrea, even though you and I know where our moms are, it still hurts because we miss them so terribly much. In time, God will heal your heart. But until then, I pray that He will put His comforting arms around you.
2 stories about your mom from the days at Calvary Baptist when your mom would come in for afternoon classes. She would spray perfume on her top, and when she came upstairs a lot of the girls would want a hug, who doesn’t want one of her hugs, but then each girl would smell of your mom’s perfume for the afternoon. Your mom was loved.
Second story: my son, Justin Brammer, crawled underneath her van one day and stayed hidden until she came out to go home. Justin grabbed her ankle and of course scared her. She admitted to being scared easily. Justin wanted to make her smile and afterwards she did.
Karen was simply the BEST!!! I loved her as a Teacher and as a Friend!!! She was just a Beautiful person inside and out!!! I have never forgotten her kindness and her caring heart towards me and others!!
Karen was simply the BEST!!!!!! I loved her as a teacher and as a friend… She truly was the sweetest!!! A fun kind and loving soul, beautiful on the inside and out!!! I have always held a special part of her in my heart !!! With thoughts and prayers to Karen’s family!!!
Loved my time in Karens classes at QHS. Such a great teacher and mentor! I will always cherish my ti.e with Senora Wittler!
Much Love!
Chad Weisinger
Karen and I had a lot of great talks at the Beauty Shop Loved doing her hair and being her friend. I visited her at the Nursing Home from time to time and I value that time also. She will be Sadly Missed
Mary Ann Flowers
KAREN was my Spanish teacher back in Jr high. Everyone and I mean everyone loved her….even the bad boys had love and respect for her.
I remember the 9th grade class trip to Mexico…..we had a blast. A few years later i ran into her and she had remarried and was Mrs Wittler.
She was always wearing a big sincere smile and would greet you with a big hug.
She was always the same, beautiful inside and out.
Sending condolences and prayers of comfort to the Bottorff family.
Andrea you and your mama will always have a special place in my heart ❤️. She was so special to my Shelly. We were baptized in her pool. Sending so much love and prayers to you sweetie
I’m so sorry for your loss. She was such a a sweet woman with a heart of gold.. She will definitely be missed..