Karen Lorenz

Karen Lorenz, 81, longtime resident of Prospect Heights, IL, Rob Roy Country Club Village, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026. She was surrounded with constant loving care during her illness by her daughter, step children, grandchildren, and many loved family members and friends.

Karen was vibrant, friendly, upbeat and sharp. She and her beloved husband, Chuck, enjoyed many years together traveling the world, especially enjoying Florida and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. They had a close relationship with family and friends. She had a successful career for many years at Xerox Corporation. After retirement, she was very socially active in her Rob Roy neighborhood. Always on the go, she loved playing pickleball, and bridge, along with having assorted game days and brunches with friends. She was a positive, energetic person, and was a member of the Welcoming Committee at Rob Roy, making others feel that they belonged and connecting them with activities.

Karen was devoted to her family including her children and grandchildren. She was embraced as “family” by her dear friends as well, especially Sharon Scharringhausen. Karen had a special love for the shelter dogs adopted from PAWS by her daughter, Heidi. When they visited, her house was a second home to the dogs, where there was always loving care and a hug and a treat waiting for them.

Karen is survived by her sisters, Jackie Plichta and Toni Pepping; children, Heidi Hunt, Mary Beth Bowman (Mark), Robert Lorenz (Melissa), Mary Claire Sopchyk (Mark); grandchildren, Kelsey, Chrissy, John, Duffy, Jack, and Rory; along with her nieces, nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles (Chuck) Lorenz; and her parents, Lucille and Joseph Hein.

Any memorial donations under Karen’s name may be made out to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=home-btn-donate-now, by following the link and selecting “Dedicate your gift in honor or memory” and typing in Karen Lorenz. Donations also may be made out to PAWS Chicago, https://donate.pawschicago.org/give/503080/?_gl=1*1ad60o9*_gcl_au*MjA2NjAxMDg2Ni4xNzcxODc4Mjcy#!/donation/checkout, by following the link and selecting “in honor of a person” and typing in Karen Lorenz.

Family will be receiving guests on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. A Funeral Mass will take place the following day at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at St. Alphonsus Ligouri Church, 411 N. Wheeling Rd, Prospect Heights, IL 60070. Committal prayers to immediately follow at All Saints Catholic Cemetery, 700 N River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60016.