Karen Kanke James was born in 1944. Kanke lived and went to school in Van Horne, Iowa, from the time she was in pre-Kindergarten until she graduated high school in 1962. During high school, Kanke was active in dramatic and vocal extracurricular activities, receiving first at state contest for vocal solo and receiving a rating I as a part of a vocal quartet. As the junior class secretary, she and another student painted a mural for the school dance.

Kanke was also a manager and scorekeeper for 6 on 6 girls’ basketball in the early 1960’s and wrote articles about the team her senior year following the girls’ basketball team’s state championship win in 1962. At the end of her senior year, Kanke received a Certificate of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Committee and planned to attend Westmar College for three years before pursuing Medical Technology (ASCP).

In 2005, James joined former teammates of the 1962 girls’ basketball team to commemorate 6 on 6 girls’ basketball in Iowa at the Veterans Auditorium in Des Moines for the 50th and final season of girls’ basketball championships to be played in the auditorium. The Van Horne girls’ basketball team won their championship title in Waterloo at the McElroy Auditorium, the only team to not play the championship finals in Veterans Auditorium since 1955.