Karin Sue Colburn Seligmann born April 4, 1948, in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to Robert Hanify and Roseada Connor Hanify and died from colorectal cancer on June 24, 2024, in Denton, Texas.

Her father was a rancher in the northwest corner of South Dakota and her mother was a teacher, usually in one-room schools with a wood-burning stove. As the youngest of four daughters, Karin learned to read, as she put it, "by osmosis, sitting in the back of her mother's classroom." Following her father's death when she was 11 years old, the family moved to several northwest South Dakota ranching communities as her mother continued to teach in various small schools.

With her mother's re-marriage came far less moving. Karin completed high school in three years, graduating from Belle Fourche High School in 1965. She then attended South Dakota State University majoring in English. During this time, she was active in Angel Flight, the Air Force ROTC auxiliary. She also participated in dormitory and university governance when the SDSU student body president was Tom Daschle (later the Majority Leader in the US Senate). Karin graduated with Honors and a BS in English.

Following graduation, she married Zoell Colburn. They had three children: Nathan, Darin and Corie.

In 1981, she began teaching in the Gifted and Talented Program at a middle school in Hawkins, Texas. She later earned an MA in English from UT Tyler. In 1988, she began teaching English Literature and directing the Writing Center at Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Texas. She subsequently enrolled in the UNT English department to pursue a PhD in medieval literature.

She married G.L. Seligmann in 1997. Shortly thereafter, Karin pivoted to a career in real estate. Not surprisingly, Karin became an extremely successful realtor. She was meticulous in handling the details and minutia of a complex legal transaction. In her 25-year career, she averaged several sales per month with a staff of one. In a field known for litigation, she was never sued. Perhaps this was a major reason that much of her business came from repeat clients, many of whom became friends as well.

Karin loved community-oriented volunteer work and did it well. She was one of the earliest winners of the Denton Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Award. She was an active and enthusiastic member of the Denton Noon Kiwanis and supporter of their Children's Clinic until the volume and pressures of her business intervened. She greatly enjoyed her membership in the Denton Benefit League and was a fervent supporter of their fundraising activities. Every spring, Karin and Gus could be found at their booth assignments for the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival.

Karin actively supported UNT, her adopted Alma Mater, serving on the Advisory Board of the Marketing Department in the College of Business and on the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Dean's Advisory Board. She was the driving force in establishing the Gus Seligmann Scholarship in the UNT History Department. She and Gus also hosted the Hurley Military History Lecture participants' opening dinner for several years. Additionally, she was an active member and leader of the Women of UNT as well as a staunch supporter of Mean Green athletic programs.

Karin, however, was not all work and no play. She loved Las Vegas for the shows, casinos and dining. On occasion, she was known to test probability and statistical theory. She loved family, beaches and fishing which led to trips to Nova Scotia, Key West (where she caught a permit!), Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Morelos, Belize and Puerto Vallarta. In short, she loved life and lived it very well!

Karin is survived by her husband Gus, three children: Nathan (Michelle), Darin and Corie Colburn, Gus's daughter Amy Seligmann Buesing (Mark), three grandchildren: Abby, Matthew and Elizabeth, three sisters: Roberta Rever, Patricia Koch, Beverly Wales, sister-in-law Victoria May Seligmann Holmes, cousin-in-law Nancy Ann Warner and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Karin Seligmann was a very bright light, now extinguished. She will be sorely missed.

In Karin's name, donations may be made to the Kiwanis Children's Clinic or Serve Denton.

A memorial service will be held at DeBerry Funeral Director's Chapel on July 13, 2024, at 3:00pm. Printed material regarding colorectal cancer and colonoscopy reminders will be available at the service.

To view the service please click the link below.

https://vimeo.com/989777748/4f4f51c494?share=copy