Jan. 14, 1941 – Nov. 19, 2024
Karen E. (Sohns) Ekberg, 83, of Sister Bay, was born into eternal life, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, after a brief illness.
Karen Ekberg was born Jan. 14, 1941, in Sturgeon Bay, to William “Bill” and Helen Sohns. She was raised in Ephraim in her parents’ Cloverleaf Grocery store and has been a resident of Door County her entire life. She graduated from Gibraltar High School in 1958 and went on to college in Minnesota to eventually become a medical technician. She worked in that profession for over 30 years. Some of her favorite stories were during the time she worked with old Doc Farmer, delivering many babies of friends and neighbors, stitching up local children (sometimes her own) and comforting his patients with her goofy stories and witty laugh. Further in life she enjoyed waitressing at the local supper clubs with her friends, working in the library, medical technician for the local clinics and working for the Ephraim Historical Society in the old schoolhouse her dear mother once taught in.
Karen married John R. Landstrom. They had three children, Heidi, Carrie and Timmy. They lived in Ellison Bay until their divorce in 1984. In 1987, she married the love of her life, Robert Ekberg. Together they bought a small hobby farm in Jacksonport and enjoyed many years together. They loved to garden, raise goofy animals, and create wonderful memories with their very large combined family. Their farm was perfect for this and many holidays, birthdays and even weddings were enjoyed there. Her all-time favorite were the annual trips they made to their cabin up in Canada. Here they loved to fish and laugh with their Canook friends and make and eat shore lunches on the many remote lakes they would fish. It was definitely her happy place!
Karen was quite a storyteller, whether it was on a stage, with music or just entertaining her friends. She loved to make people laugh, loved a good costume, loved singing, playing the piano and she had a flare for the dramatic. Church choir was a favorite for her and loved to sing to the Lord. Through good times and bad, her Faith remained strong. She was a life long member of the Ephraim Moravian Church and whether it was singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School or serving on committees or on the board, she did it as unto the Lord!
Later in life, being a docent portraying her mother, a teacher at the old Ephraim one room schoolhouse, brought her much pride. Her knowledge of Ephraim (and Door County) past and present, was something she so much enjoyed to pass on. The summer tours and school children field trips were the highlight of her days. She loved being a part of the Ephraim Historical Society and was a wealth of knowledge that will truly be missed.
Of course, she loved people! She loved her Green Bay Packers and loved playing dominoes on Tuesdays. She loved her dog Orville, and of course, the grand dogs that would visit, but most of all she loved her family! She was Grammy to all of her grandchildren, AND all of her grandchildren’s friends. She was Gigi to all of her great- grandchildren, AND all of her great-grandchildren’s friends. She truly loved the role and gave greatly to all of them.
Karen is survived by her children, Heidi (Brian) Penchoff, Carrie Jenson, Tim (Alicia) Landstrom; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren (too many to name but not too many to love).
She was proceeded in death by her loving husband Bob, her first husband Jack, her sister Joan, nephew Billy, great-grandson Austin, stepsons Matt and Dean, and step-granddaughter Nicole.
A memorial service to celebrate Karen’s life will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, at Ephraim Moravian Church, 9970 Moravia St, Ephraim, with Pastor Dawn Volpe officiating at 1 pm. Friends are invited to gather at the church after the service to celebrate Karen’s life by sharing memories and stories. Karen will be laid to rest in the church cemetery in the spring 2025.
Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, LLC in Sister Bay, Wisconsin is assisting Karen’s family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Karen may be shared with her family through her tribute page at CaspersonFuneralHome.com
