Obit: Algire, Karen M. (1944 - 2007)

Transcribed by: Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Algire, George

---Source: Foto News (Merrill, Lincoln County, Wis.) Wednesday, 28 Mar. 2007; page 10

---Algire, Karen M. (4 Jan. 1944 - 23 Mar. 2007)

Karen M. Algire

Karen M. Algire, 63, Bayfield, died Friday, March 23, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital, Duluth, Minn.

Karen was born in Wausau on Jan. 4, 1944, the daughter of Edward and Charlotte George. She was the second youngest among her siblings Christine, Paul and David.

She graduated from high school in Drexel Hill, Pa., and attended Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, and Pennsylvania State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1966.

In 1972, Karen moved to a rural homestead with her husband Tom Algire, close to the Prairie River near Gleason, where she raised her children, Andrew, Sylvia and George, and later moved to Merrill to be closer to her work and friends. She taught in the Wausau and Merrill school districts and at Parkside Preschool in Merrill. Beginning in 1984, she was head of children's services at T.B. Scott Library in Merrill. Karen loved helping children discover the joys of reading and learning, especially through her creative storytelling and puppetry. She retired from the library in the fall of 2001.

Drawn to the beauty of Lake Superior, she moved to Bayfield in March 2001. Possessing a great love of the outdoors and nature, she spent many hours biking, skiing and hiking the trails and coastline of the Lake shore region. Karen enjoyed kayaking and canoeing and she felt a great bond with the magical waters and islands of Northern Wisconsin. She made maple syrup from trees on her property and grew vegetables in her garden to share. Karen was a dedicated and gifted teacher and taught part-time at the Bayfield school. She enjoyed time with her friends, and she was involved in local conservation efforts, environmental sustainability projects and outdoor recreational groups. Her love of adventure and new experiences sent her traveling across the country and around the world.

Karen will be remembered as a radiant woman of compassion, wisdom and patience. She was endlessly kind and supportive to her children and family, and all of those she knew in the community. She will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her sister Christine George, and brother David George.

Survivors include her sons Andrew, New York; and George, Milwaukee; daughter Sylvia Algire, California; brother Paul George, Vancouver, Canada; and granddaughter Corinne.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Bayfield Regional Conservatory, PO Box 410, Bayfield, WI 54814.

Services will be May 12 in Bayfield. Memorial arrangements entrusted to Cremation Society of Minnesota, 4100 Grand Ave., Duluth, Mn 55807 (218)-624-5200.

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