KAREN PAUL

Karen L. Paul, age 77 passed away on Tuesday, February 14^th, 2023.  She was born on August 26, 1945, in Neenah, WI, daughter of the late Grant VanDusen and Juanita (Johnson) Klapper. 

Karen graduated from Neenah high school in 1963. Following graduation, she worked for Wisconsin Tissue Mills where she met her husband and soon started a family.  Karen was employed for many years by Kohls Food Stores in Neenah and Oshkosh as the bakery manager.  In 1995 she graduated from Fox Valley Technical College with an associate degree in flexographic printing and following graduation, worked for several years at Menasha Corporation.  Karen retired in 2010 from School Specialty in Greenville, WI.

Karen was an artistic and creative person who was always trying something new and enjoyed many hobbies during her lifetime.  Skilled at sewing, she made many of her daughter's clothes and Halloween costumes when they were small and did the same for her grandkids in later years. She learned the art of rosemaling and eventually taught a class in the technique.  Karen enjoyed camping, fishing, quilting, ceramics painting, refurbishing antique furniture, gardening, cooking, and canning. Karen was an avid reader and always had a book nearby that she was actively reading or had just finished.

Karen was a selfless and devoted mother and grandmother, and her daughters and grandchildren meant the world to her. She found joy in spending time with her family whether it was an impromptu dinner, a planned holiday get- together, movie night and sleep over with the grandkids, or simply spending time on the back patio or kitchen table catching up. Her door was always open, and she was often ready with a treat, small present or an offering to whip up something to eat if you were hungry. Karen had a love for all animals and made sure that the birds and squirrels and any anything else that wandered into her backyard never went hungry.  She considered pets as family; it was her granddog, not her daughter's dog and considered her rescued cats her children. 

Karen's brilliant smile, infectious laugh, warm hugs, comforting shoulder, and words of advice will be remembered fondly by all who had the honor of knowing her and will be especially missed by her three children: Gina Paul, Michelle Doule, Georgia (Steve) Daney; six grandchildren: Stefan Solis, Whitney (Nick) Borden, Chloe (Mark Mader) Olson, Alison (Luke) Al-Saadi, Lilyann Ogden, Gabriel Ogden; granddog: Zeek; great-grandchildren: Layla Borden, Lincoln Borden, Melody Remmel.  She is further survived by her brother Jeffery (Kathy) VanDusen. She was preceded in death by her parents, Grant VanDusen and Juanita Klapper and grandson, Grant Ogden.

A celebration of life will be held with immediate family and friends on Sunday, February 19, 2023. Karen will be cremated, and interment will be in Forest Home Cemetery, Fifield, WI per her wishes.  To honor her memory, memorial funds will be set up in her name with The Alzheimer's Association, Wisconsin Chapter and Saving Paws Animal Rescue Inc.  Donations can be made directly to those organizations or sent to Westgor Funeral Homes, 205 W. Doty Ave., Neenah, WI 54956.