Karen Gunzelman

Karen Moreland Gunzelman (nee Wampler), age 72, passed away peacefully after a valiant battle with leukemia on the 18th of July 2021 in Houston, TX, surrounded by her immediate family.  Karen was born to William and Betty Wampler of McKeesport, PA on July 6, 1949.  Karen grew up in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA with her close-knit and loving family. She graduated with honors from Mt. Lebanon High School in Pittsburgh, where she became an avid student of French literature, later traveling to Paris.  She went on to graduate with honors from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA after a semester overseas in Manchester, England and after receiving a degree in Psychology.  She then moved to Houston, TX where she worked for a brief time at the Capezio Dance & Clothing Store that her parents opened in the Galleria before starting work at the city welfare department.  There, she discovered her passion for social justice issues. She decided to return to school to earn her Master of Social Work Degree at the University of Houston.

Following graduate school, she met the love of her life, Stephen X. Gunzelman, after making his acquaintance by noticing the Pennsylvania license plate on his car at the apartment complex they shared.  She missed her home in the Keystone State but found Steve was actually born and raised in Maryland.  She forgave him for that, and the relationship that followed led to their marriage on August 19, 1978.  They settled in Houston and had one son and two daughters in the early-to-mid 1980s.  Karen pursued work as a clinical therapist with adolescents, who had mental health issues, giving counsel at inpatient psychiatric hospital treatment programs and eventually becoming a director at two such programs.  She loved to share interesting stories of her work in helping others, and it was very clear how her skills for listening, collaborative problem-solving, and deep empathy had such a healing impact on those with whom she worked.

While she was passionate about her work, she ultimately retired early to devote and dedicate her time to her family. She helped make sure her children attended their various activities, including soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, band, Scouts, school clubs and organizations, and teenage jobs, along with others. She loved to cheer on and support her children in their hobbies and activities and to ensure all holidays and birthdays were celebrated together.  She would often host these events at her home, and she was an excellent cook.  She had hidden talents for drawing and for speaking and reading French. She experienced many wonderful trips throughout her life and traveled internationally, both through studying abroad in college and with her husband and family over the course of her adult life. Karen had a witty and often dry sense of humor and enjoyed spending time reading about current events and politics.  She developed a true passion for how politics impacted people’s lives.  She very much enjoyed long discussions with others regarding topics such as politics and social policy, philosophy, spirituality, and psychology.

A big smile would always come over her face when the family got together.  Her love for her family was deeply known and felt.  Karen also had a true love of animals, with a particular affinity for birds and dogs. She enjoyed some birdwatching, feeding the birds and squirrels in her backyard, and she rescued a number of lost dogs over the years.  She never purchased a dog, as she was fond of saying that the dogs always found her.  Karen’s ability to truly listen to others, her empathy and compassion, and her problem-solving skills were always commented on by others and were the reasons so many turned to her in times of need.  As a result, she was well-loved by all who had the privilege of getting to know her.

Karen is the beloved wife of Stephen X. Gunzelman of Houston, Texas for 43 years; devoted mother of Christopher Gunzelman and his wife Ashley Chotain of The Woodlands, TX; Jennifer Buckley and husband Blake of Dallas, TX; Amanda Gunzelman and Patrick Bolgren of Houston, TX; loving daughter of Betty J. Wampler of Houston, TX; cherished grandmother of Breslin Gunzelman (daughter of Chris and Ashley); and a very good friend to a host of others.

Karen is preceded in death by her father William Wampler Jr. and her brother William Wampler IV (Dub). 

In lieu of flowers, donations would be much appreciated in the name of Karen to the American Cancer Society and the Houston Humane Society.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at a memorial service for Karen to be held on October 29, 2021 at 11:00 am at the Unity Church of Houston, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston, TX 77057 with a reception to follow at the same location.

A short burial service will follow the memorial service and reception at Forest Park Westheimer, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77077 at 3:00 pm on the same day (October 29).