Karen Angela Kienert
June 1, 1954 – December 27, 2023
Karen Angela Kienert (née Nassen) died unexpectedly on Dec. 27, 2023, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from acute myeloid leukemia with her family at her side.
Karen was born on June 1, 1954, in Iola, Wisconsin, to Richard and Inez Nassen. She met Mark Kienert in March 1972 in their senior year of high school. They were blessed with 48 years of marriage, shaking hands to seal their partnership on June 28, 1975. She and Mark graduated from UW-Madison in 1976.
The family moved to Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, in 1985. She worked for several banks as a personal banker for 30 years, the final 17 years as the Branch Manager at the US Bank branch on 8th Street in Wisconsin Rapids. She was on the Board of Directors for the Family Center and was in the local Rotary Club for many years.
Karen loved to travel. Her most recent trip was to Norway to meet her Norwegian cousins. There, she was surprised to learn native Norwegians don’t say “uff da.” She was often found on the fairways and 19th hole at Bullseye Golf Club. Badger sports were her passion, and she loved the UW Badger Marching Band. Her family and grandchildren were held dearest to her heart, and she cheered them on in their pursuits. She loved to cook but hated leftovers. She enjoyed decorating for the holidays, with Christmas being her favorite. She read thrillers and was always checking out mystery novels from the library. She also loved to go for “red car rides” in their Boxster.
She would have appreciated a traditional Norwegian funeral, but we couldn’t fit her three closet’s worth of clothing in the boat along with her golf clubs.
She is survived by her loving husband; her daughters: Cara (Nicholas) Abts of Wisconsin Rapids and Cassie Kienert of Madison; grandchildren Felix and Iris; siblings: Steven (Lori) Nassen, Greg (Ronda) Nassen, and Lori (Tom) Mazza; and extended family. She is predeceased by her parents and parents-in-law.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2024, at First English Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Cheryl Davis will officiate. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29, at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Friday at the church. The family would like to encourage people attending the visitation to wear their favorite Badger clothing in Karen’s honor.
The family would like to thank the staff of the ER at Aspirus Riverview Hospital for their amazing care on a very bad day.