GAYLORD–Karen Peterson, wife of Jim, age 82, of Gaylord passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the New Ulm Hospital in New Ulm. A Celebration of Life will be on her birthday, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in Gaylord with Reverend Dr. Dennis McKee officiating. No flowers please as several family members are seriously allergic to them as well as strong perfumes, deodorants, colognes etc. Memorials may be sent to:

1. Gaylord United Church of Christ Memorial Fund: https://listen2god.org/

2. American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/

3. Alzheimer’s Research: https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=digital_wallet_donations&df_id=32112&cybba=true

4. Samaritan’s Purse Donate: Donate to Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org)

Karen Dianne Bauer Peterson was born on July 16, 1941, in New Ulm, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Arnold and Luella (Grochow) Bauer. Karen was baptized as an infant at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mountville, Dryden Township, Sibley County, Minnesota, and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth on June 19, 1955, by Reverend C. W. A. Kuehner at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop. She received her education in Winthrop and was a graduate of the Winthrop High School Class of 1959. She furthered her education for Interior Design at Mankato State.

On February 7, 1959, Karen was united in marriage to James “Jim” Peterson at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop. After their marriage, the couple resided in Mankato, St. Paul, Bloomington and Gaylord. Karen and Jim were blessed with four children, Dawn, Lisa, Mark and Eric. She was a loving wife, mother and homemaker. Karen was self-employed in custom interior design for 15 years. Karen and Jim shared 65 years of marriage on Feb. 7th.

Karen was a member of the United Church of Christ in Gaylord and served on the church women’s council, choir, and women’s fellowship. She was a 30-year church camp counselor and camp director. Karen was an EMT, CPR instructor and emergency responder for the Red Cross, Girl Scout Leader and was a member of the Sibley County Chorale Society. Her greatest accomplishment was raising four remarkable children, with 11 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Karen is best remembered for her generous and sincere smile! Vivacious!

Karen enjoyed God, music, dancing, landscaping, painting, reading, doing puzzles, entertaining, coffee ‘clutches, family, and More! Most of Jim and Karen’s dating was in Pilgrim Fellowship gatherings every Sunday evening at the First Congregational Church!

Karen passed away on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the New Ulm Hospital in New Ulm at the age of 82 years. Blessed be her memory.

Karen is survived by her husband, James “Jim” Peterson of Gaylord, MN; daughters, Dawn (Peterson) Lyons and her husband, John of Eagan, MN, and Lisa (Peterson) Pioske and her husband, Terry of Gaylord, MN; sons, Mark Peterson and his wife, Karen of Hastings, MN, and Eric Peterson and his wife, Carma Gorman of Austin TX; grandchildren, Erica (Lyons) Schumacher and her husband, Jeff, Christina (Lyons) Pinson and her husband, Jeremy, Andy Pioske and his wife, Tami, Emily (Pioske) Ovrebo and her husband, Peter, Sara (Pioske) Henke and her husband, Tom, Ellen Pioske, Thomas Peterson and his wife, Maddy, Elizabeth Peterson, Meagan Prouty, Allison (Prouty) Nwaudo and her husband Dar, Marit Peterson; 15 great-grandchildren; brother, Norman Bauer and his wife, Cindy; in-laws, Greg Peterson and Merle (Mrs. Jack) Peterson; and many other relatives and friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Luella Bauer; sister, Mavis Bauer; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Arthur and Grace Peterson; nephew, John Bauer; in-laws, Sharon and Vernon Hahn; Jack Peterson and Julianne Peterson.

Arrangements by Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord, Minnesota. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com

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