Karen Car Lorence 1940 – June 28, 2010

Karen Carr Lorence, age 70, of Edina, Minnesota passed away June 28, 2010, after a short illness. Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Andy Lorence, and parents, Gene and Sally Carr of Mount Ayr, Iowa. 

She is survived by sisters, Jane Conway, of Knoxville, Iowa and Marilyn (John) Besh of Livingston, Alabama; stepsons, Matthew (Kathleen), Jordan (Marilyn) and Drake (Kari); 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; 10 nieces and nephews, and many friends.

She was grateful for the help given to her by caregiver Dolly Donahue. Karen graduated from Mount Ayr high school in 1958 and Iowa State University in 1962 and earned her master’s degree at the University of Iowa. She had a rewarding career in speech pathology and audiology in Connecticut, California and Minnesota, where she met the love of her life, Andy.

Besides being active in many professional organizations and donating her time to several charitable causes, Karen loved spending time with friends, flower gardening, knitting and other creative endeavors, extensive travel, her beloved pets and their cabin on the Saint Croix River. Karen was known for her wonderful dry sense of humor, her love of family and friends and her extraordinary passion for life. 

A mass of Christian burial will be held at Saint Joseph’s Church in Mount Ayr on Friday, July 2, at 10 a.m., with burial in Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Maloy. A memorial service will follow later in Edina, Minnesota.