Karen Noreen Johnson

KAREN NOREEN JOHNSON, age 66 of Waseca, died naturally although unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

 Karen was born in Waseca on January 13, 1958, to parents Richard Chester and Noreen Agnes (Keeley) Bartelt. She attended school in Waseca and graduated from Waseca High School. On November 13, 1976, Karen was married to Rodney Johnson. They later divorced in 2001. She began working part-time at the E.F. Johnson Company in Waseca when she was just sixteen years old. At age eighteen she began working full-time at the same company and spent over thirty years in that role. Most recently she was employed in the shipping department at Itron in Waseca. Karen was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca and was a 23-year member of the Waseca American Legion Auxiliary. She played volleyball with the Legion team for many years and she enjoyed racing, playing cards and dice games, going up north to the lake, fishing, visiting the casino, and spending time with family and friends.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Amy Johnson of Owatonna (and her furbaby, Bruiser); siblings Robert (Valarie) Bartelt of Ellendale, Kathy (Brian) Dulas of Waseca, William “Bill” Bartelt of Tulsa, OK, Daniel Bartelt of Jupiter, FL, and Colleen (Tim) Cutting of Port St. Lucie, FL; sister-in-law, Debbie Bartelt of Waseca; two uncles, Joe (Ruth) Keeley of St. Peter and Phil (Shirley) Keeley of Waseca; one aunt, Mary (Ron) Branson of Carmel, CA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her maternal and paternal grandparents; both of her parents; a daughter in infancy, Angie Johnson; a brother, Jerry Bartelt, a sister-in-law, Linda Bartelt; many aunts and uncles; a nephew, Darren Bartelt; and two beloved furbabies, Chloe and Marley.

 A public visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at the State Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Service in Waseca. A closing prayer service will begin at 6:00 p.m. A private family interment service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Waseca.