PHS educator dies at 52

PRINCETON — A longtime Bureau County teacher died Monday at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Karen E. Greer, 52, of Henry taught school throughout the years in Wyanet, Tiskilwa and most recently at Princeton High School, where she taught science and art for the past 20 years.

PHS Principal Andy Berlinski said Greer will be sorely missed at the school.

“Karen has been here a long time and been a very valuable member of our staff,” Berlinski said. “We are all in state of shock right now, and our hearts go out to her family and friends.”

Berlinski called Greer a fantastic employee, flexible and able to meet the needs of the district’s students.

“That just goes to show you the type of person she was; she had a very good rapport with the students. She was not confrontational at all, just a great relationship builder,” he said.

Longtime PHS art teacher Linda Ribar, who is now semi-retired, taught side-by-side with Greer for 20 years, sharing a classroom and an office, not to mention plenty of conversations throughout the years.

“I saw her every day. We got to be really good friends,” Ribar said. “She wasn’t just my colleague; she was my good friend.”

Ribar described Greer as being quiet and “a very good listener,” mentioning she often confided in her even though they had opposite personalities.

“She was a sounding board for me. She would listen and talk to me about things ... Even on new pottery pieces or glazes I was using, she was always there to talk to. I still can’t believe she is gone,” Ribar said. “I went into the art room this morning (Wednesday), and I thought, ‘Oh my god, I’m not going to see her anymore.’”

Ribar said Greer was great with her students, and she called her a “very good artist ... and scientist ... It was a really nice working relationship with Karen, and one I am really going to miss,” Ribar said.

Pam Byrne, head of the science department at PHS, began teaching with Greer around 1995 when Tiskilwa High School merged with PHS.

“Karen was always able to come up with fresh, creative solutions on whatever task we had to solve. I really respected her opinions … She always looked at things in analytical ways and would come up with wonderful ideas,” she said.

Byrne described Greer as quiet and reserved.

“Karen could have a lot going on, as we all do in our families, but she was always professional and would always come in and do her job or whatever she was asked to do,” she said.

Byrne said Greer was unique in her certification, as she was capable to teach any level of science to students.

“She was so gracious and took on whatever (the school) needed to fill,” she said.

Greer and Byrne shared the common interest in gardening. And Byrne noted Greer’s big heart for animals including her dogs and miniature horses. Byrne said while Greer was more reserved, she would always light up when talking about her animals.

Noreen McConnell, a PHS teacher who team-taught with Greer, said, “In addition to mentoring me, Karen taught our applied science students why it was important to learn about science in today’s world. I admired her and valued her as a colleague,” McConnell said.

PHS teacher Beth Gerig also taught with Greer, both in Tiskilwa and at PHS. Gerig said between the two schools, she believes they worked together for about 25 years, many times have classrooms across the hall from one another. The pair also worked together on prom and the school concession stands.

“She was steady and wonderful, quiet — that quiet spirit that a lot of us who aren’t too quiet really need,” Gerig said. “She was good at data and numbers, and then she was so creative. We worked really well together. It was fun to work with someone who had such a strong work ethic. I couldn’t have had a better partner to work with. It’s just really, really sad; she was such a steady presence (at PHS). I will miss her.”

Selena Olson, a PHS student who will be senior this fall, had Greer as an art teacher.

“Mrs. Greer was a wonderful woman and a pleasure to have as a teacher. She helped her students by being hands on and always making sure we knew what we were doing. The years I spent in art with her will always be with me and I will miss her deeply,” she said.

Savanah Knudsen, a 2013 PHS graduate, said Greer was not only an exceptional teacher, she was a wonderful and kindhearted woman.

“I had the privilege of having her as a teacher for three years. Mrs. Greer was always helping her students, whether it was with school work or with our personal life,” she said. “She would go out of her way to make sure everyone was doing okay, even if she was the one having a bad day. It is sad to see such a good soul leave us so young. She will be missed not only by me, but by everyone who had the opportunity to have her as a teacher.”

BCR Senior Staff Writer Goldie Rapp contributed to this report.

Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.