Karen Kay Brown, age 72, Unity, passed peacefully into eternal life on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Colby Senior Care with support of St. Croix Hospice Services surrounded by her family. Karen was born October 11, 1951, in Curtiss, the daughter of Alfred and Esther (Pudlas) Thompson. She graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1969, and went on to the UW-Stevens Point where she graduated with a degree in art. On May 29, 1976, she married Steve Brown at St. Paul Church in Curtiss, and in 1980, they moved to the house they built in rural Unity, where they raised their family. Karen enjoyed sharing in the lives of her children, grandchildren and friends. Some pastimes she enjoyed were baking, gardening, reading, cross-stitch and of course, eating chocolate! She was very creative, spending many years painting crafts and perfecting the Scandinavian art of rosemaling. In 2019, she got to take the trip of a lifetime to Norway. Karen loved children and worked at Zion Preschool in Colby for 5 years, Unity Elementary for 7 years, and Colby High School for 16 years, where she formed many lifelong friendships and kept the staff well fed with her homemade treats. She retired in 2017. She was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA in Unity, where she also served as an organist. She will be remembered for her endless kindness, generosity and patience. Survivors include her husband, Steve of 48 years; children: Jeremy (Melissa Ploeckelman) Brown of Colby, Erik (Gina) Brown of Hixton and Kati (Eric) Schoelzel of Colby; grandchildren: Ryder, Kenley, Hayden, Tylan, Eastyn and Colby Brown, Braylon, Myla and Evy Schoelzel; brother, Dale (Arla) Thompson of Monroe, brothers and sisters-in-law: Tom (Sue) Brown of Hartford, Jeff (Cheryl) Brown of St. Cloud, MN, Mary Beth (David) Erfert of Houston, TX, Larry Brown of Wausau, Donna Brown of St. Paul, MN, Pat (Jodi) Brown of West Bend, Carol (John) Staab of Dorchester, Barb (Tom) Ritzinger of Rice Lake, Rob (Maggie) Brown of Marshfield and many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, mother and father-inlaw and infant grandson, Zayne. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Unity. The Rev. Teri Hanson will officiate. Interment to follow at Pine Hill Cemetery in Curtiss. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at the church. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be designated to a worthy cause in Karen’s memory. A special thank you to Lori, Shynia and Ashley of St. Croix Hospice and the staff at Colby Senior Care. Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.comPaid obituary 152981 Karen Kay Brown, age 72, Unity, passed peacefully into eternal life on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Colby Senior Care with support of St. Croix Hospice Services surrounded by her family. Karen was born October 11, 1951, in Curtiss, the daughter of Alfred and Esther (Pudlas) Thompson. She graduated from Abbotsford High School in 1969, and went on to the UW-Stevens Point where she graduated with a degree in art. On May 29, 1976, she married Steve Brown at St. Paul Church in Curtiss, and in 1980, they moved to the house they built in rural Unity, where they raised their family. Karen enjoyed sharing in the lives of her children, grandchildren and friends. Some pastimes she enjoyed were baking, gardening, reading, cross-stitch and of course, eating chocolate! She was very creative, spending many years painting crafts and perfecting the Scandinavian art of rosemaling. In 2019, she got to take the trip of a lifetime to Norway. Karen loved children and worked at Zion Preschool in Colby for 5 years, Unity Elementary for 7 years, and Colby High School for 16 years, where she formed many lifelong friendships and kept the staff well fed with her homemade treats. She retired in 2017. She was a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church ELCA in Unity, where she also served as an organist. She will be remembered for her endless kindness, generosity and patience. Survivors include her husband, Steve of 48 years; children: Jeremy (Melissa Ploeckelman) Brown of Colby, Erik (Gina) Brown of Hixton and Kati (Eric) Schoelzel of Colby; grandchildren: Ryder, Kenley, Hayden, Tylan, Eastyn and Colby Brown, Braylon, Myla and Evy Schoelzel; brother, Dale (Arla) Thompson of Monroe, brothers and sisters-in-law: Tom (Sue) Brown of Hartford, Jeff (Cheryl) Brown of St. Cloud, MN, Mary Beth (David) Erfert of Houston, TX, Larry Brown of Wausau, Donna Brown of St. Paul, MN, Pat (Jodi) Brown of West Bend, Carol (John) Staab of Dorchester, Barb (Tom) Ritzinger of Rice Lake, Rob (Maggie) Brown of Marshfield and many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, step-mother, mother and father-inlaw and infant grandson, Zayne. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Unity. The Rev. Teri Hanson will officiate. Interment to follow at Pine Hill Cemetery in Curtiss. Family and friends are welcome from 9:00 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at the church. The Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford is entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be designated to a worthy cause in Karen’s memory. A special thank you to Lori, Shynia and Ashley of St. Croix Hospice and the staff at Colby Senior Care. Online condolences can be made to www.maurinaschilling.comPaid obituary 152981
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