Karen Joy Cardinal

Karen Joy Cardinal (nee: Loppnow), age 76, received the promise of eternal life on Saturday, (13th of April 2024). She died of complications from multiple conditions that compounded and overtaxed her body’s ability to combat them. She fought long and hard but ultimately the complications took their toll and she succumbed to them late Saturday afternoon.

We were blessed with her birth on June 10, 1947, in Racine, Wisconsin. Karen was a loving, caring, family-oriented person and friend. Surviving to mourn her passing and cherish her memory are her son, David Cardinal (Karen Kramer-Cardinal) of Newport, TN; grandson, Jacob Cardinal of West Allis, WI; step-grandson, Daniel Kramer (Asaysha Schwingdorf-Kramer) of Bremerton, WA; special friend Doug Straszewski of Kenosha, WI; cousins and friends too numerous to name. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Edna (nee: Krohn) Loppnow; her brother, Donald Loppnow, and her sister, Charlotte Loppnow.

Following her graduation from William Horlick High School, class of 1965, she went on to the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, Electronic Computer Programming Institute in Milwaukee, Alverno College in Milwaukee and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Independent Studies.

Karen had an incredibly full life; she loved people and enjoyed many things. She was able to maintain many close friendships from her grade school and high school life. Throughout her life, she was always fond of traveling. In her younger life, she traveled to all the mainland states. After her retirement she completed her visits to both Alaska and Hawaii, meeting her goal to visit every State in the Union. She was able to cruise to many of the Caribbean islands and visit many sections of Canada. While attending Alverno, she had done an extensive study of the building of the Panama Canal. She desired to see it firsthand, which she was also able to do. In addition, she was able to take a photo Safari trip with high school friends to Kenya, Africa. Before it was the norm for women, she was able to drive a motorcycle, hang glide and skydive. She played in many team sports in the city leagues playing softball, basketball and volleyball. She was an avid golfer, playing on the Ives Grove Women’s Golf League for many years and golfing independently from league play several times a week. Karen was a lifetime member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a member of AAUW (American Association of University Women) and a member of ALL (Adventures in Lifelong Learning) at Parkside.

Having been baptized, confirmed, married as a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and now in death a celebration of her life at United Lutheran Church, she served in many capacities of church life; teaching Sunday School, serving on the Altar Guild, ushering, singing in the choir, reader and assistant of communion, served as chair of several committees, more specifically chaired the 125 Anniversary of St. Paul’s founding, as well as serving as President of Church Council several times.

After twenty-five years, she was able to retire from her career with Racine County, at the time she was the Purchasing Agent. She also worked in retail for twenty years at The Boston Store. With her retirement, she then served as president of the Racine County Retirees Association for ten years. She also volunteered at Ridgewood Care Center for over ten years.

The hobbies that she enjoyed most were playing cards. Karen played cribbage, Schaskopf and bridge; a combination of which she played at least four times a week. She enjoyed reading, mostly murder mysteries. For many years she rubber-stamped, making greeting cards for friends and family. But above all, Karen cherished being in the surroundings of her family and friends. She provided a warm and caring environment for the family and friends she loved and will be remembered for her kindness, tireless efforts and unconditional love. With that, she will be dearly missed.

Cremation service by Maresh-Meredith Funeral Home has occurred and a celebration of Karen’s life will take place on Friday, May 17th, 2024 @ 3:00 pm with visitation prior from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at United Lutheran Church, 3825 Erie St., Racine, WI. Her ashes will be laid to rest on her family’s plots at Graceland Cemetery, privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be sent to: United Lutheran Church, 3825 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402 (unitedlutheran.co)Hope Center of Racine, 521 Sixth St., Racine, WI 53403 (hopescenter.org)Wind Point Lighthouse Donations, Village Office, 215 E. Four Mile Rd., Racine, WI 53402(windpointlighthouse.org)