Karen Keck

Karen Ellen (Nygaard) Keck, age 83, passed away on April 26, 2026, at Neighbors of Dunn County.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 1, 2026 from 3-5 p.m. at Wilson Lutheran Church, Wilson, Wisconsin.

Funeral service for Karen will be at 5 p.m. at church following visitation.

Karen was born on June 28, 1942, in Cady Township, St. Croix County, Wisconsin, to Leonard and Bernice (Brahmer) Nygaard. She was united in marriage to Dennis Keck on December 14, 1968, at the United Methodist Church in Downing, Wisconsin.

Karen was a longtime member of Wilson Lutheran Church and also a member of the Women’s American Legion Auxiliary in Wilson, Wisconsin. She dedicated much of her life to serving others. Over the years, she worked at Sandy Lee’s, the Wilson Nite Club, as a house cleaner, and faithfully as a custodian at Spring Valley Schools for over 35 years, retiring in 2010. She also enjoyed making beautiful and fun specialty cakes and selling Watkins products.

Karen found great joy in spending time with family and friends. She loved playing cards, enjoying a few beers, collecting items with apples, wolves, and crows, and watching Hallmark movies. She especially enjoyed listening to Daniel O’Donnell, taking ATV rides, appreciating wildlife, sewing, and collecting cookbooks.

She is survived by her special nieces and nephews and their families: Keith Kerr (Kasey); Kevin and Patty Kerr (Jesse, Caitlin, Barrett, Ivy, Colin, and Cristina); Kory Kerr (Ashley Williams) (Dalton, Mikayla, Dakota, Kassidi, and Bennett); Kelly and Becky Kerr (Kurtis, Maddy, and Easton); Lori Sanders (Bret and Kara); Jeff and Diana Sanders (Kim, Josh, Bristol, Delta, Kristina, Jayson, and Evan); Sandy and Troy Cress (Kayla, Tyler, Jacky, Brandon, and Gabriella); as well as Christine, Spring, Randy, Mike, David, and Lisa; along with many other dear extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Nygaard; her mother and stepfather, Bernice and Orville Ryan; her husband, Dennis Keck; her special companion, Robert “Bud” Wimmer; her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Allen Kerr; special nephews Craig and Kevin Kerr and Dean Sanders; and many other dear and cherished family members and friends.

Karen was a very loving and gentle lady. Though she was not able to have children of her own, she dedicated her life to her family and friends. She was never on time for anything, but she was always there when it mattered most. Her kindness, warmth, and sense of humor will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her many family and friends for the love and support shown to her over the years. A special thank you also to Neighbors of Dunn County, St. Croix Hospice, and Ross Keehr for the compassionate care provided.

Pallbearers: Jesse Kerr, Colin Kerr, Dalton Kerr, Dakota Kerr, Kurtis Kerr, Kasey Kerr
Honorary Bearers: Keith Kerr, Kevin Kerr, Kory Kerr, Kelly Kerr, Jeff Sanders, Sandy Cress
Memorials are preferred to Wilson Lutheran Church or Wilson Lutheran Cemetery.

Karen will be dearly missed and forever remembered.

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