Karen was born on June 21, 1943 to Doyle and Laura (Kreutsberg) Stemen in Jamestown, ND. She grew up attending Willow Grove Methodist Church in LaMoure County, ND and was baptized and confirmed at Immanual Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. She was one of three daughters: Karen, Sharon, and Phyllis. She was raised on a farm near Edgeley, ND, and went to the local one-room schoolhouse before attending and graduating from Edgeley High School. Following high school, she took classes at Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND. She also took correspondent art classes.

On June 5, 1965, she married Fredrick Grewe of Gibbon, MN. For four years, they made their home in Dawson, MN, where Karen worked in the office of a soybean plant. In 1969, they relocated to New Ulm, MN, where they raised their four sons: Dan, Darrick, Darren, and Daylen. After many years of marriage, they divorced.

Karen was a proud Cub Scout den mother for 11 years and worked as a bookkeeper for over 15 years at Turner Hall in New Ulm. She was especially active in caring for her son, Darren, who lived with her until his death in 2018. She served as a Sunday School teacher at Our Saviors Lutheran Church when her children were younger. Karen enjoyed many years as an active Sugar and Spice group member, which began as a home extension group before evolving into a friend group. In her spare time, she took pleasure in doing Hardanger (Norwegian embroidery), crafting gourds, sewing, painting butterflies, crafting projects of all kinds, and collecting depression glass. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and attending their special events and celebrations.

Following a fall, she moved to assisted care in the Twin Cities in 2019. All who knew her will miss her positive attitude, ready smile, and cheerful conversation.

Karen is survived by her sister Phyllis (Ron) Kipp; sons, Dan (Alisa) Grewe of Falcon Heights, Darrick (Kristen Musich) Grewe of Golden Valley, Daylen Grewe of St. Peter; grandchildren Seth, Lucas, Ian, Heather, Katelyn, Samantha, and Trisha; great-grandchildren Kensley and Aiden; and her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Darren Grewe, her sister, Sharon (Stemen) Plum, and her parents, Doyle and Laura (Kreutsberg) Stemen.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor Kathleen Ulland-Klinkner officiating. Burial will be in the New Ulm City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church prior to the service. To leave an online condolence for her family or sign the guestbook, visit www.mvfh.org

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