Karen Erkenbrack

The funeral service celebrating the life of Karen Erkenbrack of Wadena will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena, with Pastor Nate Loer presiding. Visitation will be at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Leaf River Cemetery, Wadena, MN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Karen's memorial service may be viewed by going to Immanuel Lutheran's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/immanuelwadena or www.youtube.com/@ILCWadena ~~~~~~~~~~~~ On November 30, 2024, Karen passed away with family by her side at Astera Health in Wadena, MN. She was 82 years old. Karen Louise Reece was born to George D. and Noreen (Attleson) Reece on April 18, 1942, on the Reece family farm north of Wadena, MN. She attended District 11 country school until 6th grade and then Wadena Public Schools where she graduated with the class of 1960. Karen married LaVern Erkenbrack on July 7, 1962, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena. They moved to Texas the next day and returned to Minnesota in November 1963. From 1985 until her retirement, Karen worked in the strapping department at Homecrest Ind. In leisure hours she enjoyed flower gardening, birdwatching and tracking family history. Mostly of all she treasured hours with her family, especially with her grandbabies and great grandbabies. She also devoted time to the Leaf River Cemetery Board. Preceding Karen in death were her husband, LaVern (2021); parents George and Noreen; son, Dean; siblings: David, Charles, and Harlan Reece and Lois (Bill) Nelson; parents-in-law, Vernon and Elfa (Dickhoff) Erkenbrack; brothers-in-law, Donald and Gene Erkenbrack and Jim Murray; and sisters-in-law, Karla Reece & Delphine Whaley. Surviving Karen are her children, Daniel (Melissa) Erkenbrack and Kimberly (Mark) Wynn, both of Wadena; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Donna (Ralph) Lundahl and Renee Murray; brother-in-law, Ronnie Erkenbrack; along with sisters-in-law: Dorothy Bounds, Marlys (John) Barker, Diane Reece, Bernadine Reece, and Donna Erkenbrack. Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters Rebecca & Emma Erkenbrack, and “The Fab 5” Nora, Russell, Charlee, Alice & Nash Adams Serving as pallbearers will be Jacob Dettwiler, Jaden Erkenbrack, Steven Erkenbrack, Cory Reece, Jason Reece, John Barker, and Shannon Erkenbrack. Memorials in Karen’s name may be directed to the Leaf River Cemetery, (c/o 613 1st St NE, Menahga, MN 56564)

Karen Erkenbrack

April 18, 1942 - November 30, 2024