KAREN RAE KARLSTAD

Karen Rae Karlstad, age 80, of Connorsville, WI died Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at home due to cancer. Karen was born August 8, 1946, in Black River Falls, WI. She grew up and was educated around Merrillan, WI, graduating from Lincoln High School in Alma Center, WI in 1964. She then went to college at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire where she attained a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. She then worked as a registered nurse at the old Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis for 5 years before returning to UW Eau Claire to teach nursing for a year. She then moved to St. Paul, MN where she worked as a registered nurse at Regions Hospital, (then Ramsey County Medical Center), where she continued her career in multiple positions including in nursing administration for over 30 years. Karen married Dennis Karlstad on May 1, 1982. After marriage, Karen became a member of the West Akers Lutheran Church, where she was organist from late 1980s to 2026 and where she continued her love of music she learned as a child. 

Karen was preceded in death by her parents: Edwin and Marion (Faldt) Holmgreen and siblings: Mike Holmgreen and Mary Fredrickson. She is survived by her husband: Dennis and children: Paul and Mari.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5th, 2026 at West Akers Lutheran Church, E1795 1440th Avenue, Prairie Farm, WI 54762, (651) 808-3368, with Rev. Mark Woeltge officiating and interment following in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the West Akers Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with Rausch-Lundeen Funeral Homes, Dallas & Cameron.