Karen Irene Holmgren
April 3, 1960 – Aug. 10, 2024

It is with immense heartbreak that we announce the passing of Karen Irene Holmgren on Aug. 10, 2024.

She was born in Innisfail. Alta., on April 3,1960, to Leone Gardener and Raymond McColl. Her parents were married in 1961, and she was raised on the family farm northeast of Caroline, until she graduated from high school in Caroline.

She then worked with her uncle Cliff doing various jobs, until she moved to live and work with her aunt Lorna at the Eckville Corner restaurant, where she worked for many years, making many friends as well as meeting the love of her life, Daryl Holmgren. They were married on Aug. 27, 1988. They lived in the Hespero area until 1991 when they purchased an acreage in the Evergreen area and lived there until her passing. Their daughter Kaylyn was born on Nov. 28, 1989.

Around this time, she went to work for Qualtec Greenhouses, where she worked for 31-plus years, until she was no longer able to. Karen was a hard worker and loved plants. She not only looked after the plants at work, but she maintained big flower beds at home.

She loved her daughter and granddaughters, Mayzie and Serenity, and all her family unconditionally.

She enjoyed camping and was many times the last one at the fire with a rum and her favourite niece. She bowled in the Wednesday women’s league in Rocky Mountain House for many years and enjoyed it a lot, making many new friends. She also volunteered at the local community hall for many years. She was a kind and gentle person who everyone liked and cared for.

Karen leaves to mourn her husband of 35 years Daryl Holmgren, her daughter Kaylyn Holmgren (Al Brown), granddaughter Mayzie Swedish, granddaughter Serenity Rogers and her dad Andy Rogers, brother-in-law Don (Carol) Holmgren, sister in-law Sharon (Art) Yonkman, brother-in-law Terry (Joyce) Holmgren, sister-in-law Rosemarie Holmgren, brother-in-law Barry Holmgren, brother-in-law Don McIntosh and all their families. She also leaves to mourn special aunts Lorna Kissick and Pud Bowers, and uncle Elwood Garder (Marie), Oliver Sawyer and their families, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many friends.

Karen is predeceased by her parents Leone and Raymond McColl, mother-in-law Maugerite Holmgren, father-in-law HB Holmgren, sister-in-law Darlene McIntosh, nephew Kelly Holmgren, uncle Cliff Gardener, aunt Mickey Gardener, uncle Ken Kissick, uncle Everett Bowers, and one special friend Kate Power who also passed recently. Karen was loved by many and will be missed by a lot.

A celebration of life will be held at Evergreen Community Hall, Condor, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at 1 p.m. Lunch and inurnment to follow.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.