Karen Elaine Knudsen (Smith), age 82, of Appleton, WI, passed away on Monday July 7, 2025, at home with family and caregivers by her side.  Karen was born in Racine, WI on June 24,1943 to Marvin Jochum and Esther Berg (Smith).  She married Richard Knudsen on June 11, 1966, a marriage which continued for over 59 years.

Karen owned a crafting business with her mother-in-law Helen Knudsen, which focused on knitting, cross-stitch, and various needlework artistry.  She subsequently started her own business, Tots & Treasures, where she made porcelain dolls and taught the craft to others.  Karen had a keen eye for detail and her work was exquisite.  Karen and her husband Richard served together in a number of church ministries over the course of their marriage, including working with the youth, married couples, and silent prayer retreats.  Karen also served as a scout leader for Kim and Emily's Girl Scout troops for many years.  She was always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.  Karen played guitar and autoharp, loved listening to worship music and the oldies, and had a great sense of humor that endeared her to her caregivers.  No matter what Karen was going through, she managed to keep this quality and made family and caregivers laugh each day.  She was also a gourmet cook, reading cookbooks like they were textbooks and easily applying the knowledge gained there.  Her kids would say she could make socks taste good if there was ever a reason to make something out of those.  Karen's faith has been a strong presence throughout her life, both a significant source of strength and direction through the ups and downs of life, and an inspiration and example to everyone around her.  In conjunction with her faith, family was the most important thing in her life.  Karen lovingly provided grandma daycare to six of her grandchildren, watching Home Alone and Land Before Time over and over and over.  She attended every school event she could to support her children's and grandchildren's activities, tirelessly listened to stories of the ongoings of their lives, and simply loved well. Everyone who knew Karen was familiar with her strong, long hugs that let you know in that moment you were the most important person to her.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents Marvin Jochum and Esther Smith, step-parent Patricia Jochum, in-laws Arthur and Helen Knudsen, aunts Carroll (Frank) Wheeler, Helen Berg, and Eileen Hilger, sister Brenda Foelker and brother David Jochum, sisters and brothers-in-law Patsy, Judy, Kenneth, Raymond, and Martin Knudsen, and grandson Jacob Knudsen.  Her brother-in-law George Knudsen joined her in passing just 10 days after she went home to be with Jesus. Karen is survived by her husband, Richard Knudsen, daughters Kimberly (Michael) Hammen, Emily (Richard) Nussbaum, son Matthew (Meredith) Knudsen, grandchildren Seth Hammen, Jonah Hammen (Hazel Peterson), Esther Hammen, Adriana (Phil) Paulson, Bailey Nussbaum (Nate Johnson), Tony Nussbaum, Matthew (Emalee) Knudsen, Gabriella (Jared) Pruett, and Amyah Knudsen.  Karen is further survived by her brother Kenneth (Linda) Smith, brother-in-law Donald Knudsen, sisters-in-law Carol Knudsen and Sandy (Michael Priest) Knudsen, as well as great-grandchildren Landen, Brady, Brielle, Quinn, Olivia, Amberlee, and Matthew.

A celebration of life for Karen will be held at Christ the Rock Community Church, W6254 US Highway 10 114 Menasha, WI 54952 on Saturday, August 2, 2025.  Visitation from 12 noon to 2 p.m., service to follow.  Pastor Peter Leschke will be officiating, with support from the Brettschneider Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel.  A livestream for Karen's service can be accessed by clicking or entering the following link 10 minutes before the start of the service: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a25076885193705

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the following:  to the caregivers from Home Instead for the love and amazing care they gave to Karen these past few years – you made all the difference in the world in helping Karen be able to stay in her home and be treated with dignity; to her doctors, Dr Roderick Hubert and Dr Benjamin Ciske and their teams - your patient and thorough care for Karen helped extend her time on earth with her family and we felt you routinely went above and beyond for her and for Rick; to Stacie Nagorski of Christian Family Solutions and Peter & Nancy Leschke for your emotional and pastoral care that helped bring peace and support; and to the Compassus Hospice program for helping Karen and her family navigate life's final moments with compassion, dignity, and comfort.