Karol June Pykiet was born on January 20, 1952 in Harper, Kansas to Dean and Alice (Wohlschlegel) Branine.

She grew up in Holabird, South Dakota with her brother, Ken, and sister, Kay. Karol went to school at Holabird Grade School and graduated from Highmore High School in South Dakota with the class of 1970.

After High School, Karol loaded her 1965 Chevrolet Corvair and moved to Cheney, Kansas. She lived with her Uncle Clyde and Aunt Betty. During this time she worked at Uncle Clyde's Restaurant while attending Vernon's School of Cosmetology.

On June 16, 1973, Karol married Vernon Pykiet at the Harper United Methodist Church. They were blessed with two sons, Clayton and Andrew, and later gained a daughter-in-law, Jessica, a grandson, Zane, and a granddaughter, Riley. The family celebrated their last Thanksgiving together the day before she passed, and Karol looked forward to the addition of a new grandbaby this spring. The family was blessed with deep love and abiding affection for each other.

With the help of her husband and father, Karol opened The Finishing Touch beauty salon in Harper. After several years of operation, she sold her salon. In 1983 she started a new career with the United States Postal Service. Through many years of dedication, she worked her way up to postmaster and retired from the Clearwater, KS office in 2012.

Karol was an active volunteer for the non-profit organization Dress for Success, where she served as director, board member, and chair of fundraising. She was also very active in NAPUS (National Association of Postmasters of the United States) and held the position of president of the Kansas chapter in addition to working as the editor of the NAPUS newsletter.

Preceding Karol in death is her mother, Alice Branine (d. August 29, 2015). Left behind to cherish her memories are her children: Clayton Pykiet, his wife, Jessica and their son, Zane, and Andrew Pykiet and his daughter, Riley; her father, Dean Branine; her brother, Ken Branine, his wife, Sandy, and their son, Shawn; her sister, Kay Gill, her husband, Steve, and their children, Cody and Alicia; a multitude of other family members and countless friends.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Harper.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, at the Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church in Harper with Pastor Kelly Randolph officiating. Interment will follow at the Harper Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Wichita Dress for Success and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th ~ Harper, Kansas 67058 is in charge of the arrangements.