Karen Allen

Loving, patient, and kind, Karen Allen lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. A woman who embodied the principles of her faith, Karen led by example. She lived wholeheartedly, with gratitude for her life and unwavering generosity. Fun-loving and positive, Karen radiated joy and never hesitated to do anything to make someone else's life easier, more fun, and less lonely. A powerful role model for how to live a joyful life, Karen inspired all who were blessed to know her. A devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, Karen will be deeply missed and remembered by those she so dearly loved.

1948 proved to be a year of continued celebration of the end of World War II. As America's heroes eagerly returned home, a renewed spirit and hope filled the air. American prosperity grew like never before in our history. The Greatest Generation soon proliferated, creating the age of the Baby Boomers. The cause for celebration grew even greater for Joseph and Mary Daneff as they welcomed their daughter, Karen, to their family on January 27, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Karen grew up with the good company of her younger siblings, twins Joseph and Jeannie. Her father was a carpenter who, along with her mother, afforded Karen a parochial education. She attended Catholic school and enjoyed participating in the high school Pep Club and attending the dances that were held in the school gymnasium.

After graduating from Archbishop Ryan High School in 1966, Karen took a job at Iowa National Insurance Company to get a taste of the world. Her fabulous work ethic, which was evident from an early age, was quickly noted and became a hallmark of her entire life.

In 1969, Karen met Dennis Allen, who was stationed at Offutt Air Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. Dennis was attracted to her good looks, great personality, and her kind nature. The couple hit it off right away and were married six months later, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Omaha, Karen's home Parish. As Dennis had just started a new job in Kalamazoo, their honeymoon consisted of driving to Kalamazoo from Omaha.

Like many newlyweds, money was tight, but Dennis wanted to make sure that he had something new for Karen, so he purchased a mobile home. Many fond memories were made in this home, especially bringing their daughter Krissy home from the hospital. Eventually, Dennis built the family's home in Vicksburg, where many treasured memories were made. Dennis was then transferred to Comstock Park where he built a second home for his family. In the early 2000’s when Dennis retired, he built one last home in Lawton. Karen was a loving and caring mom who supported Krissy in all of her endeavors.

Karen was a classy lady who dressed to the nines and never left home without her makeup, reflecting her joy for life and desire to add beauty to the world. For a time, she proudly served the women in her community as an Avon Representative. To Karen, the job was so much more than the product; it was an opportunity to help women feel good about themselves. It was also about connecting with people and making new friends. She brought these same values with her to Hudson's Department Store in Portage, where she worked for over twenty years. With signature hard work and dedication, Karen often did more than her share of work.

Though she was known for a great work ethic, Karen also always wanted to have fun. She always had a smile on her face, but more importantly, she had a smile in her heart. A natural people person, Karen made friends easily, and she couldn't go anywhere without running into someone she knew. And, when she saw anyone she knew, she didn't just exchange a quick "Hello," she engaged in a full conversation, as she was genuinely interested in what was going on with the other person. Generous with everything that she had, she especially liked to celebrate small victories, marking the occasion by sharing sweet treats or a frozen mocha with others. Though she loved to go shopping, she truly loved her home, which she kept immaculately clean.

For Karen, family and church were the two most important things in her life. Over the years, the family made many visits to Omaha to connect with family and friends. Christmas was big, and she loved to spoil the family with gifts. Thrilled to become a grandmother, Karen loved that her grandchildren would affectionately call her "G-Mom." An active member of St. John Bosco Church, Karen's keen eye for details and knack for making even the simplest task elegant made her a natural for taking care of the linens for the altar at the church. She dedicated her effort to ensuring this part of the Mass was special for everyone in attendance.

Karen also liked to travel. Over the years, she and Dennis enjoyed trips all over the United States, to Mexico, the Catalina and Hawaiian Islands, Italy, Vatican City, where they attended Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, and Vienna, Austria. She especially enjoyed the memorable trips to all the Disney theme parks with her daughter and grandchildren.

In 2008, Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer, and over four years, she had also been diagnosed with uterine cancer and colorectal cancer. Then in 2024 Karen was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. As with all things in her life, Karen faced her health challenges with grace, determination, and positivity. No matter what was going on with her body, she was bound and determined to live life on her terms with a good attitude and a smile. Karen's indomitable spirit and positive attitude inspired her family to feel especially blessed to be in her presence over the last 17 years.

As we celebrate Karen's beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying her wonderful legacy of joy and kindness forward. In each moment we choose to embrace life as a gift, live by the golden rule, greet a stranger as a friend, generously serve others, cheer on our loved one's dreams and goals, explore the world with our beloved, share a sweet treat, and relish time with loved ones, we keep Karen's memory alive and inspiring others as she inspired us.

Karen Ann Allen passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025. She is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughter, Krissy (Christopher) Hayward; 2 grandchildren, Molly (Kyle) Carter, Nicholas Hayward; 3 great grandchildren, Hadley, Noah, Bennett; brother, Joseph Jr. (Jenny) Daneff; sister, Jeannie (George) Hallman, and several nieces and nephews, and extended family.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Friday August 15th from 5-7 pm at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A Rosary will be held at 7 pm. Karen’s celebration of life will be at a funeral mass on August 16, 2025, at 11:00 am at St. John Bosco Church, 23830 Front Ave Mattawan, MI 49071. The burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 210 S. Kalamazoo St, Paw Paw, MI 49079. A luncheon will follow the burial at St. John Bosco Church, 23830 Front Ave Mattawan, MI 49071. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations made be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children, or St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Mattawan, MI. Celebrate Karen's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.