Karen. M. Kuhnau

Karen M. Kuhnau, age 85, of Miltona, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, September 15, 2025, at her home under the care of Hospice of Douglas County.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Miltona with Rev. Terry Finnern officiating. Music is provided by organist, Deb Joachim and vocalist, Shelley Tomford. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Visitation is 5-7 p.m., Friday, September 19th, at the Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria and will continue one hour prior to the service at church.

Karen Maxine was born on October 14, 1939, to Matt and Katheryn (Andre) Anderson in Graettinger, Iowa. She was baptized at the Graettinger United Methodist Church and also confirmed there on October 12, 1950. Karen graduated from Ringsted High School in 1958. After a double date at the drive-in movie theater, she and Glen Kuhnau began dating. They were married on June 15, 1958, at her home church. The couple first made their home in Lakefield, Minnesota, where they welcomed two children. During this time, Karen also worked for Campbell’s Soup in Worthington. In 1966, the family moved closer to Glen’s relatives and purchased their home in Spruce Hill Township. Karen worked at Fingerhut from 1967 until 2002. Following the company’s closure, she returned to school and earned an associate degree from Alexandria Technical College. She then worked for the Alexandria Area Association of Realtors from 2003 until 2018. Though her health eventually prevented her from working, she never considered herself fully retired. Karen was a devoted member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Miltona, where she taught Sunday school and was active in LWML. She also served as a 4-H leader, participated on the board of the Spruce Hill Foundation, and was a member of MAAPS and the Antique Power Shows. Her many talents and hobbies included quilting, knitting, crocheting, oil painting, and gardening. Above all, Karen treasured time spent with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Glen; son, Brent; sister and brother-in-law, Margery (Robert) Marsh; sisters-in-law, Patty Kuhnau, Allyn Kuhnau, Carol Kuhnau, Karen L. Kuhnau; brothers-in-law, Bob Rydberg, Don Kuhnau, Bill Kuhnau, Darrell Kuhnau, Roger Kuhnau, Gib Kuhnau, and Paul Kuhnau; three nieces, Tamara Kuhnau, Sheri (Causley) Major, and Wendy Kuhnau; and great-nephew, Ryan Rydberg.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Deb (Al) Worlie of Cambridge; two grandsons, Jacob (Karolanne) Worlie of Miltona and Jonathan (Kim) Worlie of Minneapolis; sister, Mary Anderson of Seneca, Illinois; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bob (Mary) Kuhnau, Earl Kuhnau, Vic Kuhnau, Doug (Birdie) Kuhnau, Delores Rydberg, Myrt Schmidt, Judi Kuhnau, Kathy (Angus) Causley, Barb Chan, Elaine Kuhnau, and Donna Kuhnau; along with many nieces and nephews.