Karen Chang

Karen Ann Chang passed away peacefully on February 18, 2023, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha, NE, after a battle with breast cancer.

Karen was born to Emil and Josephine Lundquist on January 23, 1943 in St. Paul, MN. Her parents were immigrants from Sweden and Czechoslovakia. She had a boisterous laugh, anytime you heard it, it filled you with joy and love. Her friends knew her as a strong person and a “wild child” who was fun to be around!

After graduating from Johnson High School, Karen attended Ancker Hospital in St. Paul, MN, to pursue a nursing degree. Before graduating, Karen met her future husband, Dr. Joe Chang. One day she had trouble inserting an IV, and her classmates told her to ask him to help. While helping her with the IV, he asked her out for dinner, and, of course, she said yes! After dating for a short time, they were married at “The Little Brown Church” on September 4, 1965, in Nashua, IA. Eventually, Karen and Joe settled in Aberdeen, SD, where they lived for over 40 years.

Karen enjoyed playing the piano, reading, crocheting, collecting dolls, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends. She was a social butterfly known for her “Minnesota goodbyes,” which could keep you on the phone for hours. She was generous with her hugs and always friendly with whomever she met. She was a loving and supportive mother and grandmother. Her legacy lives on in her four children and six grandchildren.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou