Karen Ann Walta

MONTREAL, Wis. - After a brave and courageous two-and-a-half year battle with cancer, Karen Ann (nee Fine) Walta, 73, of Montreal, went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, while in her home and surrounded by her family.

Karen's love, kindness and strength were an inspiration to those of us she leaves behind.

Karen was born on Nov. 22, 1947, in Spokane, Washington, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota as a child and lived there for many years until she found a piece of paradise and the love of her life, Joe Walta, in Montreal, where she had resided for the past 31 years.

She worked as a home health aide where she considered many of her clients as family and treated them all like gold. Karen's greatest passions in life were her family, friends and animals, rescuing many four-legged pets over the years. Karen also enjoyed participating in volunteer and charitable events such as The Polar Plunge, Judy's Ride for Breast Cancer, The Paavo Marathon and especially The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 529. Karen loved and honored our country and veterans.

Karen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joe; her parents, Stanley Fine and Genevieve (George) Lyons; and a nephew, Ray Schumann.

Karen is deeply loved and missed by her children, Deborah (Joe) Bauer-Carnevale, Louis (Annie) and Jesse Kyte. She was the world's-best grandma to: Logan (Camila) aka Monkey DooDoo, Lucas (Sandra), Jason, Louis IV (Paige), Haley and Owen. She is sadly missed and adored by six great-grandchildren, Makailah, Johann, Lucas Jr, Lillian, Nicholas and Mia. Karen is also survived by her loving siblings, Barbara (Tom) Docken, Colleen (Pat) Schumann, George Fine (Randy Damewood), Patricia (Wayne) Orf, Gregory (Lisa) Fine, Jeremy Fine and David (Amy) Fine. Also surviving Karen is her stepmother, Carol Fine and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. She also leaves behind one of her greatest fluffy companions, Molly.

Joe's daughter, Michele (Brian) Oleson and her family were also loved very much and an important part of Karen's life.

To honor Karen's legacy: be kind, help others, enjoy the simple things, live well, laugh often, love much and of course, drink a beer.

A celebration of Karen's life will be held at her home on Saturday Oct. 2, with a prayer service starting at 2:00 p.m. Please bring your favorite memories and stories to share.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, Michigan, is assisting the family with their arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.