Karen Alyce Dockendorf

away peacefully on January 7, 2022. She was 87.

Karen was born to Fred and Alyce Hartmann in Mound, Minnesota on May 26, 1934. She attended

Mound High School and graduated 7th in her class. She was the editor of the school paper, a member of

the Quill and Scroll Honor Society, a member of the National Thespian Society, and Junior Class

President. She was outgoing, popular and intelligent, and was voted best personality by her senior class.

After graduating, Karen met her future husband, Richard, while attending classes at St Cloud State. They

were married on September 11, 1954. Her first son Scott was born on October 9, 1955. She then moved

to Kaukauna Wisconsin and gave birth to her second child, Sandra, on June 8, 1957. Her third child,

Wendy, was born July 22, 1959 after a move back to Minnesota.

Karen and Richard moved to sunny California in the summer of 1961. They settled in San Jose where

Karen raised her three children and worked part time in retail sales jobs. On September 16, 1965, she

gave birth to twins, Linda and Mark.

Karen was a loving mother who did not shy away from being involved with her children. She taught

Sunday school, supported Little League, Cub and Girl Scouts, and was a ready volunteer for many school

activities and clubs. In the late 1960s she joined the Avon team, where she became one of their top

salespeople and achieved the President’s Club award many years. She continued to sell Avon for over 45

years and was well known in every neighborhood where she resided.

Her greatest passion was a love of animals. Any stray dog or cat was welcome in the house, and she

always found a home for all strays in the neighborhood. She took up horseback riding as the family

moved to the Pinehurst area of San Jose, and continued to develop herself as an endurance rider,

teaching her daughter Linda in the process. After Richard retired in 1988, they moved to Plymouth CA in

1992 where she raised four horses, a dog, and many feral cats on five acres.

Karen led a very active life and was caring for animals and hosting Thanksgiving parties well into her

eighties. She had a loving spirit, a personality that attracted many friends and an infectious, unique

laugh. She was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2008. She leaves behind her five children, ten

grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

A celebration of Karen’s beautiful life will be held in the Spring 2022, open to all that knew and loved her.