Karen Margaret Kuhlmann

Karen Kuhlmann, beloved wife and devoted mother, was born on March 5, 1942 in Bozeman, Montana to Alice and Gestur Johnson. After a short time in Alameda, California, her family settled in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1947. Her father was employed as a Chemistry Professor at Colorado State University (CSU) and the family lived in the faculty apartments. Karen attended grade school, high school and college (CSU) in Fort Collins. Family always held significant meaning for Karen. Her younger brother, Freddie suffered from severe health issues related to cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Throughout high school and college, she assisted in his daily care to ensure that he had a fulfilling life, despite his physical challenges.

From a young age, Karen exhibited a God given talent for singing and music. She began by studying the piano at a young age, which led to an interest in organ. By the time she was 15, she was playing the organ for church services at St. John’s Lutheran Church. While she was in high school, she exhibited a talent for clarinet as well. Karen graduated from CSU in 1964 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree with a Major in Voice and a Minor in Organ. Over the next year, she continued with additional coursework at CSU and explored the theater, playing the lead role in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”.

Dennis Kuhlmann came in to Karen’s life when he joined the St. John’s choir in 1965, while pursuing his Master’s Degree at CSU. He immediately noticed the beautiful redhead playing the organ. After a yearlong courtship, they were engaged and then married on June 5, 1966. Karen and Dennis started their married life in New Brighton, Minnesota where Dennis had already begun his engineering career with Honeywell before attending CSU. They lived in a beautiful townhome community for 22 years and had three children, Christopher in 1968, Angela in 1974 and Kerrie in 1976.

While in the Twin Cities, Karen had a chance to continue her career as a professional musician. She worked as the Director of Music at Messiah Lutheran Church, playing the organ and directing the choir. She also sang with the Bach Society, a prominent classical performing arts group that held concerts throughout the year. Her musical career allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Karen was a wonderful cook and homemaker. She loved to entertain family and friends with her delicious meals and beautifully decorated table settings.

In 1988, the family moved to Highlands Ranch, Colorado when Dennis had an opportunity to relocate with Honeywell. Karen was thrilled at the prospect of moving back to the state she loved. Shortly after the family relocated, Karen’s talents were discovered by Christ Lutheran Church and she was offered the job of Director of Music. In addition, she began teaching piano and within no time had 30 students. She loved her students and held recitals throughout the year.

The time in her beloved Colorado only lasted 5 years, when a job transfer uprooted the family again to Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was a hard move separating parts of the family. Karen once again felt God’s calling to use her talents in a church setting. She served as Director of Music at St. Luke Lutheran Church.

When Dennis retired from Honeywell in 2001, Karen and Dennis moved back to the Denver area settling in Castle Pines. This was wonderful since all of the kids, now grown, were also living in the Denver area. Even though Karen suffered from fibromyalgia, she always managed to make every holiday and family get-together a special occasion. In late 2014, Karen and Dennis welcomed the first two grandchildren to the family, twins London and Logan. They assisted in caring for their grandchildren nearly every day until Karen was diagnosed with brain cancer on July 4, 2015.

Karen went to Heaven February 4, 2016. Karen is proceeded in death by her mother Alice, brother Freddie, and father Gestur. She is survived by her husband, Dennis, son Christopher, daughter and son-in-law, Kerrie and Christopher Brennan, daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Mark Lentell, and two grandchildren, London and Logan Lentell.

Memorial contributions may be made in Karen’s name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, Phone: 1-800-227-2345, www.cancer.org