The Villages, FL - 88, of The Villages, Florida, died peacefully October 23, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Karen was born in Hillsdale, MI to Myron and Margaret (Van Orden) Katzenmeyer. She was a graduate of Hillsdale High School and Hillsdale College earning her bachelor's degree in elementary education and participating as a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. Karen married Charles Allen Crowell on February 18th, 1960. Later in 1960, Karen and Charlie moved from Michigan to Minneapolis, MN and later to Edina, MN where she taught elementary school, nursery school and raised her family.

Karen will be remembered as a loving, kind, patient mother of four wonderful children. She had a unique way of bringing humor into the family. She created a home overflowing with love and laughter. Karen was artistically talented and had a life long love of music. She played the flute beautifully, sharing her gift in her high school band and orchestra. Karen also enjoyed playing the piano bringing warmth and harmony to every piece she performed. Her music enhanced many church activities where she joyfully shared her talents. Karen's creative talents were expressed in her cooking, her time on the piano bench and through her love of watercolor painting.

Charlie and Karen enjoyed retirement, splitting time between Sylvan Lake, MN and Naples, FL enjoying time with family including their eight grandchildren. In 2017, they moved to The Villages in Florida, recently taking residence at Freedom Pointe. Karen is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Charles Crowell; son Peter Crowell, his wife Kelly and grandchildren Frederick and Olivia of Florence, MA; daughter Katherine Armistead and grandchildren Liam and Haven of Lake Tahoe, CA; daughter Sarah Kuipers, her husband David and grandchildren Claire and Grace of Eden Prairie, MN and daughter Elizabeth Leu, her husband Joel and grandchildren Margaret and Charles of San Francisco, CA.

A celebration of Karen's life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall, MI. 49068. Visitation will begin at 12:00 Noon prior to the celebration. Interment will be take place at Oakridge Cemetery in Marshall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online at www.DementiaSociety.org, Online remembrances may be made at https://kempffuneralhome.com.