Karen (Thorssen) Heesen (class of 1969) was born in Superior, Wisconsin. Since vision services were non-existent in 1956, when she began first grade, she soon found herself enrolled at the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH). Though being so far away from home wasn’t always easy, Karen really enjoyed her time at the school, and values the education, experiences, and friendships that attending there provided her.
After graduation in 1969, Karen pursued a degree in music at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO. There she met, and later married, David Heesen. They have five children (two are WSVH graduates), and twelve grandchildren—three of whom are visually impaired, and two of whom are currently enrolled at WSBVI.
Karen taught elementary music, as a volunteer at the school their children attended, for twenty-five years. When their youngest child began school, she entered Beloit College to complete her teaching degrees in music and elementary education. Since graduation, in May of 2000, she has been employed by WSBVI, where she teaches braille and coaches drama and forensics.
Over the years, Karen has served on the boards of the Alumni Association and Wisconsin Council of the Blind. She was also a member of the Legislative Council study, tasked with determining if there was a need for the residential school in the continuum of placement options for Blind/VI students.
As the parent of blind children and grandchildren, Karen continues to advocate for quality programs for blind/VI children, and is excited that our school will soon be noted—on IEP forms—as the residential option for parents to consider.
In her leisure time, Karen keeps busy with church activities, watching Jeopardy, following the Chicago Cubs, participating in a summer weaving class for the visually impaired, keeping up with family and friends, and reading. At its reunion in June, she was elected to the AAWSBVI’s Board of Directors, and is looking forward to serving the organization in whatever way she can.