Gresser, Karol Ann, age 87 Burnsville passed away peacefully on August 5, 2022.Preceded in death by her husband, Jerome; sister and brother-in-law Helen (Charles) Anderson; parents; Elmer and Minnie Pieper, Survived by her nieces and nephews; Stephen (Teresa) Anderson, Michael Anderson, Thomas (Jodi) Anderson, and Susan (Patrick) Flikeid;Brother-in-law, Michael C. Gresser and sister-in-law, Lorraine Gresser; special friends Nick and Dianne Rowse, Dave and Rita Baden; also by many extended family members and friends. Karol was a person who lived her values. She was active in environmental protection, volunteering in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, donating to causes she cared deeply about, and networking with many friends. She also volunteered at the Valley Natural Foods Co-op when it first opened. She advocated to keep Terrace Oaks Park in Burnsville a natural park, not once, but twice, saving it from being turned into a golf course. She mentored children and adults alike in caring for the environment. Karol co-led the annual Spring Bird Identification classes in the 1990's with Naturalist Kathy Heidel at Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington. These were co-sponsored by the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter (MRVAC) and Three Rivers Park District. Birders eagerly flocked to these classes to practice skills for the spring migration. Karol was well-known in the birding community. She is ranked #52 in the statewide Minnesota Ornithologists' Union for the number of bird species she observed in Minnesota: 380 species. Karol delighted in taking people under her wing and encouraging them to share her passion for birds. Karol was a world traveler and made life-long friends wherever she was. She enjoyed the Keyboard Conversations concert series at Hamline University, birding trips, and meetings of the Minneapolis Audubon Society and MRVAC. She was a regular walker at the indoor YMCA track in Burnsville. She loved dark chocolate, birds, live music, and lefse among other things. She will be greatly missed by many.
Mass of Christian Burial, 11am Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at Mary, Mother of the Church (3333 E Cliff Rd) Burnsville.  Visitation from 10-11am Prior to the service at church. Condolences: www.whitefuneralhomes.com

Memorials preferred to: *Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter: https://www.givemn.org/donate/Minnesota-River-ValleyAudubon-Chapter or P.O. Box 20400, Bloomington, MN 55420 *Joseph's Coat: www.josephscoatmn.org or 1107 West 7th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102 *Mary, Mother of the Church: www.mmotc.org or 3333 Cliff Rd. E., Burnsville, MN 55337

The family is requesting every one attending service should wear a mask