Karen Norma Sjolund, age 87, died December 19, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She resided at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center since moving from Waterman in 2017.

Karen was born December 11, 1937 in Aurora, IL to Raymond Gerhard and Norma Margaret (Falk) Bjorseth. She graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL in 1960 and married Richard C. Sjolund on June 16,1962 at Grace Lutheran Church in Aurora.

She taught public school in Geneva and Elgin before a child-raising hiatus, interspersed with substitute teaching, and the subsequent resumption of her teaching vocation in Lee and Shabbona. She mainly taught first and second grade, but also had experience teaching other grades, music, art and junior high.

She was a gifted musician and generous about sharing her gifts. Over the years, she participated in Waterman area cantatas; sang in and accompanied church choirs at First Lutheran; served actively in music education for Sunday School, Christmas programs and Vacation Bible School at Walcamp; and accompanied many young musicians at music contests. Active in her community, Karen also served as a board member of the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity where her kind disposition helped fill the kettle with record donations.

She is survived by her son, Jon David (Yoko) Sjolund of Tokyo, Japan; daughter, Sara Ann (John) Feken of DeKalb; and granddaughter, Ann Yoshida Sjolund of Tokyo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister (Helen Rae Sorvari), and brother (Raymond Gerhard Bjorseth II).

A memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 27, at First Lutheran Church (324 N. Third Street, DeKalb, IL 60115) with the Rev. Megan Vaughan officiating. A visitation will be held beforehand from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the adjacent atrium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice in memory of Karen N. Sjolund.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.