Karen Jean Smith of St. Paul, MN (formerly of Larsen, WI) passed away peacefully on December 7, 2022.

Karen was born in Neenah, WI on February 29, 1944 to Wallace and Anna Marquardt. She attended Winneconne High School and graduated in 1962.  She married Douglas Gene Smith in 1965 and they divorced in 1981.  

Karen grew up on a family farm where she developed her love of horseback riding and barrel racing with her two horses, Thunder and Smokey.  She embraced the Wisconsin winters and was a member of the Knight Riders Snowmobile Club in the early 1970's and enjoyed trail rides with family and friends along the Wolf River. She spent time living in Tooele, UT where husband, Doug was stationed with the U.S. Army.  Her love of that part of the country continued, with countless trips to California when Doug worked for a long-haul trucking company.  Karen was very social and was a frequent chaperone at Winneconne High School dances in the mid to late 1980's where she loved the music and the interaction with students.  Karen was quite the fashionista and loved going shopping and out to lunch.  She was a baker of many delicious cookies and treats and was famous for her frosted cut out cookies.  

She is survived by daughters Stephanie (Craig) Gunkel, Mounds View, MN and Heidi (Steve) Weyers, Minocqua, WI, grandchildren: Chris, Jarrett, Joey and Katie and step-grandchildren: Kendall, Stephen, Austin, Keegan, Adam, Collin and Austin.  She was preceded in death by ex husband, Douglas Gene Smith and parents, Wallace and Anna Marquardt.

A private celebration of life will be held in summer 2023. Donations and memorials in Karen's name would be graciously accepted at the American Stroke Foundation https://americanstroke.org/or American Liver Foundation https://liverfoundation.org/.