Karen Marie Rowland

Karen M. Rowland (nee Wieda/Lorentzen), age 70, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her kids in the early morning of Tuesday, November 12, 2024 after a short battle with lung cancer.

Karen was born in Blue Earth, MN on February 12, 1954. She was raised in Sullivan, MO by her adoptive parents and after high school, moved out west to California. On Thanksgiving of 1973, she met her future husband, Raleigh. They fell in love almost immediately. They resided in Petaluma, CA and got married on July 27th, 1975 in Meramec State Park, in Sullivan, MO. After a few years, they welcomed their first of three children, Angela Eve, in December of 1977. They moved back to the Midwest in the Spring of 1978, and later that year bought a house in Hoffman Estates to raise their family. After a few years they welcomed their second child, Nicholas Daniel, in Sept of 1980. Karen started going to college in hopes of becoming a nurse, but with taking care of the kids, she was unable to finish. In February of 1984, they welcomed their third and last child, Juliet Marie. A family of five, many great times were had, many family road trips over the summers and lots of great holiday celebrations. She had searched for her birth family for decades and was finally able to locate them in the fall of 1995. A great family reunion was had. She always loved that she shared a birthday with Abe Lincoln. Karen was a very spiritual person. She studied reiki and chakra, along with healing massage. She was part of a few paranormal investigation groups, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She dabbled in many crafts, including painting with acrylic and oils, sewing, crocheting, drawing, wreath making, quilting, and just about anything that Hobby Lobby sells. She loved making clothes and scarves/hats for her children and grandchildren. She was always the go-to when there was mending needing to be done. She loved watching her grandchildren whenever she could.

Karen is survived by her loving children, Nicholas Rowland and Juliet (Patrick) Duncan, along with 5 grandchildren: Emily RoseMarie Newell, Willow Skye Duncan, Jareth Jett Rowland, Ethan Caleb Duncan and Malakai Gideon Duncan; along with many cousins and friends.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 47 years, Raleigh Rowland; daughter, Angela Newell; and parents, Charles Lorentzen and Lueva McCrite; adoptive parents, Elsie & Silas Wieda; step-mother Dorothy Lorentzen; nephew Noah Wieda; many aunts and uncles & grandparents.

A memorial service for Karen will be held at 10:30am on Friday November 22, 2024, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 647 Dundee Ave, Barrington, IL 60010.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s name may be made to The American Lung Association or American Cancer Society.