Obituary of Karen Lynn Stemen

Karen Lynn Stemen of Grahamsville, beloved wife of Michael Stemen, died Monday, July 10, 2017 at the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown.  She fought valiantly against the multiple attacks of Lupus for the past five years.  She was 71.

The daughter of the late H. Douglas Krueger and Evelyn J. Braun Krueger, she was born November 28, 1945 in Fitzsimons, Colorado.  Karen’s family returned to her father’s birth state of Wisconsin where Karen went to school and graduated from Custer High School in 1964.  After two years of college, Karen embarked on a great adventure of joining American Airlines and training in Texas.  She was awarded San Francisco, CA as a home base and met her future husband Michael there in 1967.  Karen and Mike were married in San Francisco on March 2, 1968 and would have celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2018. Karen flew for American for 10 years of service and retired when she and Mike moved to New York City for his job with Macy’s. Karen was always a gardener, even in NYC with a roof garden atop the Osborne Apartments at 57th Street and 7th Ave.

In 1986 Karen and Mike yearned for a “little patch of green” and purchased an 1850’s farmhouse in Grahamsville in Sullivan County.  It was there she created two floral gardens, built a pond with a waterfall and landscaped her and Mike’s own private floral park.  She was happiest planting every lily, rose, and wildflower each Spring. She loved touring in antique Buicks with the special members of the Buick Driving Enthusiasts for the past 15 years.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sister Karol Schill of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Family & friends are invited to gather on Thursday, July 27 from 11am-2pm at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello with a memorial service starting at 1:30pm.

Memorial contributions can be made to charities that benefit Lupus and Diabetes research.

Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello NY; for additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com