Karen Shirley Dennis

Karen Shirley Dennis passed away peacefully on September 2, 2026. She was born on March 9, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Valeria and Kenneth Craven. When Karen was 7 years old, she moved with her family to Costa Mesa, California, where she attended Christ Lutheran School and later graduated from Costa Mesa High School in 1968.

Karen is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Craig Dennis; children, John (Jenny) Dennis, Amy (Steve) Luethmers, Katie (Alberto) Turcios; grandchildren, Kiara, Reyes, Alex, Isaac, Ian, Amelia, Callum; siblings, Vicky (Darrell) Judkins, Heidi (Mike) Patrick, Becky (Tim) Sullivan; sister-in-law, Debbie (Roy) Waltze; sister-in-law, Kay Craven; and many extended family and friends.

Karen held various jobs throughout her life, but she took the greatest pride in her career as a special education educator. She was a true champion for students who needed someone in their corner. Karen had a special way of making people feel seen, valued, and loved, leaving a lasting impact on the lives of so many students and families.

Our hearts are broken as we say goodbye to our beloved wife, mom, grandma, sister, and friend. Karen loved being a mom and grandma, and her family was always at the center of her heart. Her love, lessons, and the memories she created will continue to live on through all of us. It is hard to imagine life without Karen, but we find comfort in knowing she was welcomed into heaven by her parents, her brother Gary, her nephew Nathan, and her great-niece Brooklyn.

Karen's family would like to thank the incredible staff at Generations Memory Care for the compassionate care they provided over the past year and a half. The genuine love, kindness, and support they showed Karen and her family were second to none. We will always be grateful for the care and love they gave.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 222 Pfau Street, Mankato, MN. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and the church service will follow at 12:00 pm.