Karen S. McNamara, age 72, of Rochester, Minn., passed away on February 12, 2026, at Spring Valley Living Center of Spring Valley, Minn., surrounded by family following a long battle with early-onset dementia.
Karen S. Stevens was born on January 3, 1954, to Ardean and Frances (Cooper) Stevens in Rochester. She graduated from Mayo High School in 1972. Shortly thereafter, she married Gary Hanna, and to this union two girls, Jennifer and Amanda, were born. The couple later divorced.
Karen met her soulmate, John McNamara, in 1990, and they were later married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union, a daughter, Katrina, was born.
Over the years, Karen became well known for her fashionable sense of style and glowing appearance. She will be remembered fondly for her stubborn and feisty attitude, beautiful smile, and loud, boisterous laugh that could breathe life into any room.
In her early years, Karen enjoyed boating and fishing up-north with family. For over 27 years, she was a dedicated retail manager at K-Mart in Rochester before retiring at the age of 47. She later worked for the USPS in Rochester for a short time.
In her spare time, Karen enjoyed long motorcycle rides with John and friends, basking in the sun on the deck at her home, and cooking and baking for family and friends – her famous Special K Bars were always a hit, having been dubbed “Special Karen Bars” by her son-in-law. She loved hunting for a good deal, rummaging through estate and garage sales, frequenting the shops of local small towns like Lanesboro, Harmony and Decorah, as well as traveling to new places and exploring with her family. During her downtime, Karen loved reading. She could often be found curled up on the couch by lamplight, immersed in a novel.
Karen was a wonderful grandmother to her grandchildren and loved to snuggle with them, play, and read stories. She will be deeply missed by all who loved her.
Karen is survived by her loving husband, John McNamara, of Rochester; her daughters Jennifer Nielsen, Amanda (Tim) Wolfgram, and Katrina (Charlie) Hain; her stepson David (Joanna) Bain, siblings Randy (Nancy) Stevens and Kathy (Tod) Rogers, and her grandchildren: Isabella, Justin, Ryan, Sophia, Oliver, Adrianna, Jonathan, Sapphire, Valentino, Austin and Levi.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ardean and Frances Stevens, and her in-laws Lyle and Mary Ellen McNamara.
Her family will fondly remember all the life lessons she shared and the joy she brought to their lives.
The memorial service for Karen will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. in River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, with Rev. Jon Marburger officiating. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to the service at the chapel. Burial will be in Millet Cemetery, Rural Spring Valley, at a later date.
A special thank-you is extended to Jennifer McNamara for providing in-home care to Karen in the early years following her dementia diagnosis, the staff at Spring Valley Living Center, and St. Croix Hospice.
Online condolences are welcome: www.mackenfuneralhome.com.
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