Karen Wetzel

Karen Ann Wetzel passed peacefully into the light on September 16, 2023. Karen was born in Rockford, Illinois on June 7, 1961, to Dale and Clara Wetzel. She graduated from Rockford East High School in 1979 and was a lifelong Rockford resident. As a child, Karen was feisty, funny, and fearless. She was a gifted athlete in swimming and diving. She was enthusiastic about the outdoors, and that’s where she was often found. In Karen’s teens, however, signs began to appear of the schizophrenia that would shape the rest of her life. There were some rough years. However, with the skill and love of her parents, other family members, doctors, social workers, and mental health care advocates, a team developed that supported Karen extremely well in her later decades. The Wetzel family is especially grateful to Stepping Stones of Rockford for many years of compassionate assistance. The last few decades of Karen’s life were filled with friendships, outings and creative activities. She was especially talented in crafts, favoring the fiber arts. Many family members and friends were the happy recipients of her hand-crafted items. She seemed to enjoy each day as it came, and encouraged others to “keep smiling” and “stay happy.” Karen was kind and generous to a fault, and was able to give and receive love easily when it came to the people she truly cared about. Karen is survived by her sister, Jean; her brothers Ray (Kris); Brad; and Rick (Lori); her nieces Emily, Amelia (JT), Julia (Ivan) and Kayla; and her nephew, Ethan (Lilly). Karen was pre- deceased by her parents, Dale and Clara Wetzel and her paternal and maternal grandparents. There will be no public service, but we urge everyone to smile, stay happy and tell your friends and family that you love them in Karen’s memory. Stateline Cremations is assisting the family, 6204 Forest Hills Rd., Loves Park www.statelinecremations.com