Karen Jean Safranek
Karen Jean Safranek
Karen Jean Safranek, age 61, entered eternal life on Saturday, October 21, 2017 after a very valiant, long-fought battle with cancer.Karen was born on February 25, 1956 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Loren and Evelyn (Flittie) Clumpner. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class from Barron High School in 1974 and continued her education at UW-LaCrosse where she graduated in 1978.In 1997, fate aligned and Karen met the love of her life, Clem Safranek. The two married on October 12, 2002 and two families became one.Her grandchildren meant the world to her. She'd give anything to see their faces light up and give them big hugs and kisses. She was a crafty lady who could do pretty much anything from sewing, quilting and knitting to creating the neatest holiday treats for school. If you stopped over around a holiday, you were guaranteed a tour around the house with all of the decorations on display.Karen is survived by her loving husband, Clem; her daughter, Kelsey (Kevin) Blum; her son, Tron Griffith; her stepdaughters, Brittany (Scott) Sullivan and Brooke (Mike) Nelson; her stepsons, Josh (Melissa) Safranek and Dustin (Jade Wagner) Safranek; her grandchildren, McKenna Griffith, Emerson Blum, Oliver Sullivan, Rae Nelson, and Zosha and Lucy Safranek. She is further survived by her sister, Jane Clumpner, along with many other relatives and friends.She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Tron and Louise Flittie and Eugene and Inga Clumpner; her parents, Loren & Evelyn Clumpner; her in-laws, Frances & Wallace Stewart; her brother-in-law, Martin Carr; many aunts and uncles, as well as her cousin, Kim Miske.Visitation will take place at Redlin Funeral Home on Saturday, November 4, 2017 from 11am-2pm with a service immediately following.A special thanks for the wonderful care provided by Dr. Roberto Leon Ferre (Mayo Clinic), Dr. Alissa Weber (SSM Health) and Agrace HospiceCare. Without you, we wouldn't have had this extended 3 years with the most wonderful woman we know.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: American Cancer Society Hope Lodge411 2nd Street NWRochester, MN 55901-2814