Karen Jean Pape, age 76 of Mazomanie, WI left to join her family in Heaven with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. She dedicated her life to her family, friends and those in need, supported and joined by her husband Dave Pape in all her adventures.
    After her retirement from Lands End, Karen and Dave had more time for card parties, to dance the night away (how they met years before), establishing and expanding their farm Pape’s Patch and traveling to be a part of their ten children’s lives. She loved her bees and was the source of delicious honey to her loved ones around the world.
    Karen also dedicated her time and love to those in need. She and Dave used the expanded Patch to provide a large amount of fresh produce to local food pantries. She and fellow retirees started the group called HATS - “Hats are to Support.” Karen’s group has made well over 14,000 hats for those in need. Her giving of 15 gallons of blood inspired others to donate.
    While in her career at Lands End, which started in 1983, Karen was a valued trainer for the company, training in multiple locations in the US and traveling overseas. It was during this time that she began her dancing years and met her husband Dave.
    Karen’s traveling around the country and world started years ago. Over the course of 24 years, she instilled this sense of exploration in her grandchildren while they were in their early teens by taking them on individual trips mountaineering in Idaho, North Carolina, Virginia, the ranch in Wyoming, and a road trip through three states. Among her travels, were trips to research other’s adventures and share them with her family through genealogy.
    With her marriage to Walter Howery and the birth of their four children, the adventuring started with canoe trips, Sunday drives with JW and Bernice Howery, and camping with friends and loved ones. The dedication to giving to others started with homemakers, founding the local theater group, making trips West to cook for the mountaineers, and becoming a leader in church activities, all this while partnering in the family bee business.
    The adventure of Karen started on a farm, April 2, 1939 in Wiota Township in Lafayette County, surrounded by loving family.
    Karen is survived by her husband Dave Pape, children and grandchildren Deena (Richard) Lonzo, Andrew (Rebecca) Lonzo, Karen (Isaac) Pulkkinen, Will (Sinda) Howery, David (Joanna) Howery, Danya Howery, Alan “AJ” (Lynn) Howery, Jenna Howery, Sue (Dennie) Sauer, Missy (Andy) Blinderman, Melanie (Tom) Schneider, Matt (Staci) Sauer, Dave (Sabine) Pape, Dan (Teodora) Pape, Teresa Pape, Casimiro Pape, Kathy (Brad Statz) Pape, Colleen (Chuck) Schwarting, Kevin (Molly) Pape, Jaden Pape, Kyle Pape, Bryce Pape, Courtney (Tommy) Shimenetto, Skyler Pape. Karen loved to read stories to her great-grandchildren: Leah Blinderman, Ryan Blinderman, Owen Blinderman, Felice Lonzo, Holly Schneider, Aiden Sauer, Landen Sauer. She is also survived by numerous friends and family. Karen was preceded in death by her parents; brother: Gary Atter; and sister: Beverley Peterson.
    A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ (339 E. Louisa Street, Darlington) with Rev. Larry Balleine officiating. A visitation was held Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Erickson Funeral Home (508 Main Street, Darlington). Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ericksonfuneralhome.com.
    For those who prefer, a memorial fund has been established in Karen’s name.
    Hug your family, be thankful for your time, join a great card game, adventure into the night, read a book to a child, and create memories with those that you love.