Karen F. Madsen

Woodland Hills Funeral Home 507-387-5504

   Kären F. Madsen, age 88 of Mankato, passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.

   Funeral service will be Friday, January 21, 2022 at 12:00 P.M. (Noon) at Woodland Hills Chapel in Mankato with Pastors David and Carrie Mauch, officiating. Interment will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato.

   Visitation will be on Friday morning from 10 A.M. until the hour of services at Woodland Hills Chapel. Donations preferred to Rapidan Heritage Society, Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Foundation, or donor’s choice.

   Kären was born on May 1, 1933 to Thorsten E. and Lois M. (Jaycox) Madsen in Mankato, Minnesota. She graduated from Rapidan High School in 1951, and furthered her education to become a nurse. On October 17, 1953, she was united in marriage to Henry Wessels in Rapidan, Minnesota, they later divorced. Kären was a nurse for many years and also an advocate for mental health issues. She was also employed by Carlson Craft, a preschool center, and was also a wonderful and dedicated homemaker. She enjoyed journaling since age 12, and had a special journaling friend, Ashley. She also enjoyed vacations to Denmark to visit relatives, and to the Holy Land. Annual family reunions were very important to her. She especially enjoyed being involved in worship services and Bible studies. Kären loved cats, and had one until very recently.

   She is survived by her son, Wayne Wessels of Isanti; daughter, Tami Mann of Mankato; grandchildren, Daniel Wessels and fiancé Afton Hall, Justin and Megan Wessels, Sara and Caleb Gettle, Jesse Mann and Kaitlyn Heminover, Marissa Mann and Jordan Anderson; great-grandchildren, Mia and Ava; brothers, Richard (Ann) Madsen, Steven (Mary) Madsen; many nieces, and nephews; many American cousins; many Danish cousins, and friends, especially Roger, Mary Ann, Sandy, Ashley, and Nancy.

   She is preceded in death by her parents; grandparents, LeRoy and Ada Jaycox and Johannes and Marie Madsen of Denmark; brother, John (Sharol) Madsen; nephew, Johnathan Madsen.