Karen Ruth Dolega

Karen Dolega was born Karen Ruth Krueger in Port Washington, Wisconsin on The Twelfth Day of Christmas 1949. Epiphany is an intuitive grasp of reality. She grew up in a home on The Milwaukee River in Mequon, Wisconsin which is now essentially a suburb of the city of Milwaukee. In those days it was mostly undeveloped or farmland. She graduated from Homestead High School in 1967 and came to Michigan to study at Michigan State University. It was there she met her husband-to-be James Dolega, on a blind date in 1969. They married in Lansing on August 30th, 1969. She finished her Bachelor of Science degree with a Teaching Certificate and taught briefly at Okemos High School before moving on to Lansing Community College’s Math Lab, where she stayed until she retired. It was not unusual to run into former students out in public who thanked her for helping them through their math problems.

Living in Lansing, Karen and her husband, James had two daughters “later in life”. Lauren Dolega-Caceres, and Lynne Owens. Grandmother of Leandro and Julian Dolega-Caceres, and Ruby Owens.

She liked to like people in an honest and open way, so people liked her. “Love” and you will be “loved”. She did and she still is. Sort of a universal kindred spirit. She was an avid reader and spent a lot of time with her husband creating and maintaining “fantastical” gardens to play in; a plant “whisperer”. She will remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Multiple celebrations of her life will be held in the coming months.

The family thanks the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home for their kindness and services during this tough time.