Karen Ann Vencill

Karen Ann (Hoopman) Vencill, of Cheyene passed away October 29, 2024, at home in Cheyenne. She was born on September 12, 1947, in Cresco, Iowa, going to her hometown of Clermont, IA, where her father Gordon was the manager of the local lumber yard. She attended school in Clermont, graduating from Valley High School. She was a cheerleader, in the band & choir, Home Coming Queen, and in the National Honor Society. She attended Rochester Community College and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa before being accepted at the Mayo Clinic of Physical Therapy in Rochester, MN. She worked in Minneapolis prior to moving to Cheyenne to practice at the hospital and then opening a private practice prior to her retirement.

Karen met Paul at a National Physical Therapy Conference at Disney Land in Anaheim, CA. Meeting through a friend they ended up on a double-blind date. During the short weekend she trustingly traveled with Paul to Tijuana, MX to see a Jal Alai game, enjoyed another dinner together, ending with Paul taking her to the airport early Sunday to return to Minnesota. Several months of phone calls led to Karen’s first trip to WY to attend Cheyenne Frontier Days. After asking what to wear, Paul responded, “Just wear your jeans.”, not knowing she had never owned a pair of jeans. She arrived in Cheyenne to find Paul as a totally decked out cowboy. Karen and Paul married on May 8,1976 in Clermont, IA. In marrying Paul, she also inherited two girls, Lisa and Gina, one dog and a cat. Karen quickly got involved in the CFD festivities through the W-Heels Costume Contest, as a contestant winner and then helped run the contest. Her involvement grew into making beautiful costumes worn in the parades, becoming a member of the W-Heels and filling carriages for 37 years. Karen was a true rodeo fan, loved the chuckwagon races, the bulls, spending time with family, and teaching her grandchildren and great grandchildren all about the events. She was not only an amazing seamstress, she was a devout Christian, an avid gardener & reader and loved to travel. She and Paul traveled across the United States over the years, made multiple trips to Europe and took a one day trip on the USS Cheyenne where they enjoyed a wonderful lobster dinner followed by a 500’ dive in the Pacific Ocean. Karen’s life was filled with many more worldwide travels, and many cherished memories made with family and friends.

Karen is survived by her husband Paul Vencill of Cheyenne, daughter Lisa (Kevin) Gouran of Broomfield, CO, Gina (Bill) Scribner of Cheyenne, WY, grandchildren Breanna (Jason) Arnold, Sean (Madeline) Gouran, Elizabeth (Lucas) Cirbo and Sara (Joseph) Polling, and seven great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by parents Gordon and Fran Hoopman and brother, Dale (Terry) Hoopman.

In memory of Karen contributions may be sent to St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Cheyenne, Cheyenne Frontier Days W-Heels, or a charity of your choice.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 10:30 am at St. Peter’s Anglican Church 252 Dell Range Blvd. Cheyenne, WY 82009. Reception to follow, noon to 1:30 pm.