Karen E. (Dart) Stroede

Karen E. (Dart) Stroede, age 83, passed away on August 5, 2026 in the comfort of her home. Karen wrote the following obituary herself, viewing it as one last chance to thank the people who enriched her life. It reflects the gratitude, humor, and appreciation that defined her, and we have preserved her words with only minimal edits.

Writing my own obituary is strange, yet it gives me a chance to say thanks to many of the important people in my life.

I was born July 28, 1943 on a farm in Sugar Camp, the daughter of Leslie and Frances Dart. Five siblings and I grew up on this farm. A great memory was riding Big Red (a former racehorse) without bridle and saddle across the farm field. He’d run as fast as he could, turn around to the barn and if I didn’t get off immediately, he would buck me off. Thanks to my parents and siblings, it was a good life.

Elementary school was spent in Sugar Camp and then graduation from Three Lakes High School. A year was spent in business school in Spokane, WA and then four years at Wisconsin State University - Oshkosh, graduating in 1967 and marrying Dan on December 30, 1967. Along the way we spent 58+ wonderful years together raising three kids. As a family, we explored the spectacular Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the wonders of Wisconsin. We all loved hiking, biking, x-country skiing, canoeing, and kayaking. For 26 years we gathered in the UP each summer with our growing family. Over this time, Dan and I were blessed to gather with my college roommates and husbands annually at a B&B somewhere in Wisconsin or Minnesota. Going back to our roots, my sister and I travelled to Sweden to meet with amazing cousins where we were given fantastic tours of our ancestral home. Gratitude for those many good years, it was a good life.

I spent 34 fulfilling years working with my first love — plants of every kind. The last few years were spent growing native plants. They were used for lakeshore restorations and, of course, my own garden and I hope many other gardens. I must thank all those employees with whom I worked and the employers who managed to put up with me through the years. Hobbies were, of course, gardening, reading, and very amateur photography. It was a good life.

Later years found me with a difficult to treat cancer. My thanks for those who supported me: my husband, Dan, our children, our grandchildren, the antics and smiles of our great-grandchildren, sister Peg, friends, & and the many wonderful doctors and nurses as well as their support staff. This was the hard part, but yet, it was a good life.

Preceding me in death were parents Leslie and Frances Dart; sister, Nancy Dart Opie; brothers, Elwood, Denny and Bernie; sisters-in-law, Charlotte Stroede, Charlotte Horn, Jenny Stroede, and Louise Stroede, brothers-in-law, Chuck, Dale and Ted; nephew Ken Dart, and niece, Marie Opie Williams. For the blessing of their lives, gratitude.

Surviving are husband, Dan Stroede; daughter, Brenda O’Rourke (Kevin), sons, Mark (Amanda), and Paul (Nicole); grandchildren, Lyndsay Stroede (Cody), Emma Stroede (Luke), Hannah DeMeyer (Jacob), and Carson Stroede; great grandchildren, Alainah, Benson, Hudson and Casey; sister Peg Dart Thomas (Earl); brother-in-laws, Al and Jack Stroede; sisters-in-law Betty Dart, Carol Dart, and Joanne Dart; and nieces, nephews, and friends. With love and gratitude for their lives.

In lieu of a funeral, my request is for a gathering of family in celebration of our lives together. Celebration of life will be held at the Sugar Camp Townhall on August 29, 2026 at 1 p.m.

If you so choose, memorials can be given to Doctors Without Borders or The Nature Conservancy.

The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414/www.carlsonfh.com) is serving the Stroede family.