Karen Rose Alm, age 74, of Isanti died at her home in Spencer Brook Township on May 1, 2018. Celebration of Karen’s life at 4 PM Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Oxlip Evangelical Free Church, 29237 Roanoke Street NW, Isanti, MN, (763-444-5134), www.oxlip.org. Meal to follow. Donations for the ministries at: Oxlip Evangelical Free Church.
Karen Rose (Anderson) Alm, 74, departed this world and passed to her heavenly home on May 1, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer. Devotion to her family and her firm belief in God supported her in the struggle and ultimately gave her peace through it all. At the time of her passing, Karen was at her home in Spencer Brook Township with family by her side.
Karen was born to William R and Violet (Strand) Anderson on July 24, 1943 at the family farm in North Branch Township. She was the youngest of nine children during a time when there was no running water, nor electricity and making clothes from the flour sacks was common. Karen attended a two-room country school house through the 7th grade, graduated from Cambridge High School in 1961 and from Swedish School of Nursing in 1964 with her Registered Nursing degree where she then began her professional nursing career at the Swedish Hospital.
During days at nursing school, Karen would hitch a ride home on weekends to the country with a student friend and the friend’s cousin, Philip Alm, hence a relationship was kindled. Philip and Karen began 53 years of marriage on September 26, 1964. In 1968, Phil’s father experienced a stroke so they moved to Spencer Brook Township in Isanti County to keep the Alm family farm operational. In addition to raising their three children: Nadette, Neil and Nathan; Karen worked as a nurse at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, later at the Elim Home in Princeton, as well as, dependable partner with Phil in their family business, Alm Plumbing and Heating.
Karen and Phil had the gift of hospitality. Friends and family alike have been welcomed and treated to good food, laughter, and games around the kitchen table. Karen hosted family
reunions, church parties, and neighborhood ladies Bible study. Their house seemed never to be empty – when a family was in transition, needing housing for the inbetween time – they found refuge at the Alm home. Karen also enjoyed gardening, traveling, roller coaster rides, and most of all, time with her
family.
Karen was a member of Oxlip Evangelical Free Church, actively involved in many aspects including the youth, starting the AWANA program in 1983 which is still going strong today,
involvement in the Interfaith Hospitality Network for homeless families in Isanti County, and work connected with building
additions onto the church. Phil and Karen were also part of helping to get the Zimmerman Evangelical Free Church started in the 1970s. Karen was involved in Bible Study Fellowship for women in the Fridley area in 1990’s, then in leadership for the pilot start-up in Elk River in 2013. It all stemmed back to her South Isanti Baptist Vacation Bible School experience when she was nearly nine years old, she came to the understanding and acceptance of what Jesus did for her in paying her sin-debt and offering eternal life – of which she is fully enjoying today. Who wouldn’t want to know more about that? Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Alvin and Leroy; sister Marie; sisters-in-law, Pearl, Shirley and Jan, and father- and mother-in-law, Oscar and Agnes Alm.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, Phil; daughter, Nadette (Martin) Waligora (Isanti); sons, Neil (Tina) Alm (Isanti) and Nathan (Jacki) Alm (Foxboro, WI); grandchildren, Calvin Waligora, Winston Waligora, Rebekka Alm, Rhea Alm, Robert Alm, Amber Alm, and Brody Alm; brothers, Wm. R, Jr., Howard (Gloria June), David, and John (Susann); sister, Margaret; and sisters-in-law, Darlene Anderson, Marilyn (Wayne) Nelson, Marge Alm; brother-in-law, Dean Lund; many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.