Karen Marie O'Connor

Karen Marie O’Connor, nee Lord, passed away in her sleep on January 1, 2023. She was sixty-eight. Karen was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on June 22, 1954, to William B. and Lorraine Lueker Lord and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. She moved to Boulder, Colorado to attend college and then settled in Greeley.

Karen had an independent, untamed spirit that she expressed in all her interactions with family and friends, through her art, her writing, and the way she dressed (she had a shoe collection to marvel at). She doted on her grandchildren, Lexi, Beau and Jeremiah, and treasured spending time with them, showering them with gifts, attention, and love. She loved animals, especially horses, dogs and cats and always had a menagerie of pets, most recently her beloved Mi-Kis, and once owned several horses. Karen valued words and admired clear, concise writing. As a young adult, she learned calligraphy and made handmade cards for family and friends featuring beautifully calligraphed favorite quotes. Karen also reveled in the power of nature, whether it was while swimming in the Gulf off the Florida coast or embracing the winter cold. As a child she loved to ice skate during Wisconsin’s freezing winters.

Karen cared passionately for her community. She joined the Kiwanis Club of Johnstown- Milliken in 2021, and immediately fell in love with serving the children in her community. Karen served as the Club Secretary, the Builders Club Advisor and was elected Club President in October. She loved attending both District and International Conventions and having a voice in the direction of the worldwide service club she loved.

Karen is survived by her husband, Robert O’Connor, her daughter, Amy Renshaw (Daniel), her grandchildren, Lexi, Beau and Jeremiah, her sister, Melanie Lord (Gary Werner), and her brother, Jeff Lord (Deborah Romero). She was preceded in death by her son, Kyle Stark, and her parents.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 21, 2023 at 11 am at the Stoddard Funeral Home in Greeley. There will be a catered lunch (a variety of sandwiches, salad, and refreshments) to follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to either the Weld Food Bank at 1108 H Street Greeley, CO 80631 www.weldfoodbank.org or the Kiwanis Rocky Mountain District Foundation at 8398 Devinney Ct. Arvada, CO 80005 https://f24.site.kiwanis.org/ as these were two meaningful organizations to her.

Karen will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew and loved her.

The family would like to thank you for all your love and support.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stoddardsunset.com for the O'Connor family.