Karen Neale, 1936-2016

Published 10:20 am Thursday, December 8, 2016

A memorial service for Karen Neale will be at 11a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.

Karen passed away Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, at her home in Albert Lea. She was 80.

Karen Neale

Karen was born July 26, 1936, to Bill and Nellie (Boe) Peterson in Albert Lea. She was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1954. She attended nurses training for a year at Northwestern Hospital and Macalester College.

Karen married Ivan Arneson in 1955 and to that union three children were born: Laura, Steven and David. The couple was later divorced. In 1973, she married John “Jack” Neale. She worked at Albert Lea Medical Center for 26 years.

Karen enjoyed helping at church and her church family. She loved to garden and enjoyed canning her vegetables. She was an amazing cook. Karen also enjoyed traveling, going many places during her lifetime.

Survivors include her husband, Jack; daughter, Laura (Kelin) Holmen, and their four children, Jaimeson, Taylor, Alex and Noah; son, Steven (Pam) Arneson, and their family; son, David (Heidi) Arneson, and their four children, Philip (Haley) Arneson, Ellen (Tommy) Mote, Paige and Anna Arneson; a great-granddaughter, Rowan; brother, Wayne D. Peterson (Jim); sister, Susan E. Olson (Dave); brother, Allan L. Peterson (Lois); as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Nellie Peterson.

Memorials are preferred to Peace and Power at First Lutheran Church.