Marie A. Karlen

Marie A. Karlen 88, Wausau, died Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at North Central Health Care, Wausau. She was born November 16, 1919 in the town of Cassel, daughter of the late Henry and Helen (Sanders) Lang. On August 26, 1940, she married Leo Karlen at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marathon. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1994. Marie was a member of the Holy Name Society, the Catholic Women's Club and a member of the Parish Council of Catholic Women, Marathon. For many years, Marie was a playground supervisor at Holy Name Catholic School and also worked for the ice rink at Marathon Park. Among her many interests, she enjoyed tending to flowers and plants, making crafts and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Survivors include, seven children, David Karlen, Tucson, Ariz., Gerald (Pam) Karlen, Oakdale, Cal., James (Rose) Karlen, Marathon, Connie (Landy) Koppa, Weston, Delton (Jacalyn) Karlen, Rib Mountain, Randy (Kim) Karlen, Wausau and Scott Karlen, Wausau; 16 grandchildren, Rosetta, Shevonne, Troy, Tyler, Cindy, Brenda, Amy, Tracy, Todd, Matthew, Christopher, Jonathan, Brent, Kaleigh, Nathan and Reid; 14 great grandchildren, Joey, Erica, Sonoma, Shelby, James Jr., Zachariah, Dylan, Tamara, Ryan, Aaron, Shelby, Kyle, Jacob and Kaden; two brothers, Frederick (Lillian) Lang, Marathon and Henry Jr. (Adeline) Lang, Marathon; and many nieces, nephews and relatives. Besides her parents and husband, Leo, she was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Cami Karlen; one daughter-in-law, Mary Karlen; two sisters, Helen Kurtzweil and Florence Kurtzweil; and one brother, Alex Lang. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Wausau. Rev. Gerald Pehler O.F.M. Cap will preside. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Marathon. Friends may call Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 3400 Stewart Avenue, Wausau and again Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. There will be a prayer service Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at North Central Health Care C-Unit for all of the love, care and compassion given to Marie who all affectionately called her "Grandma Karlen". In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund is being established for the North Central Health Care Facility in Wausau. Online condolences at www.petersonkraemer.com