Karen Ann Verdun, age 81, passed away May 15, 2021 surrounded by her family, which she loved more than anything else in the world. A visitation will be Wednesday, May 19, 2021 from 3 until 7 p.m. at Hager Memorial Home in Dwight, Illinois, with a memorial service at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Grant Speece officiating. Hager Memorial Home is handling the arrangements. She was born September 8, 1939 in Streator, Illinois to Edward and Margaret (Morrison) Kettman. She was the first of four daughters. She met the love of her life, Arthur Joseph Verdun, Jr., at Devil’s Lake in Baraboo, Wisconsin, which will later become ironic as they married October 31, 1959 (trick or treat?) Karen went on to give birth to three of the most stubborn children placed upon this planet: Son, Brent (Sue) Verdun; son, Brad (Judy) Verdun; and daughter, Beth (Terry) Gerdes. The apples didn’t fall from the tree. Karen loved sports. She was a girls’ youth summer league softball coach, which indeed took more patience than a saint. Win or lose, and mostly lost, she was a Bears fan. But mostly, she loved her White Sox. She loved music, mostly country music. If there wasn’t a Bears or Sox game on the television, music was sure to be playing. That was the one thing she appreciated about Alexa; if she wanted to hear a song, she asked Alexa to play it. Although, Alexa didn’t always cooperate; it was a love/hate relationship. In the end, music soothed her soul, and made the transition peaceful. She had a great sense of humor (she had to, raising Brent, Brad and Beth – say that ten times fast). She loved to read and frequented the public library as much as she could. In her younger years, she painted ceramics. There wasn’t much Karen didn’t touch with a paint brush. She cross-stitched many a shirt over the years for friends and family. Not only was she blessed with artistic talent, but she was one of the smartest and most brilliant women known to mankind. There wasn’t anything she couldn’t do once she set her mind to it, and this is where her stubbornness became one of her greatest attributes. She faced many challenges in her life, but none bigger than that of fighting emphysema. She fought long. She fought hard. She was able to spend many more years with us than doctors expected – she wasn’t going to be told by anyone how long she had. Above all, she loved spending time with her family. She was the glue that kept us all together. She adored her sisters and spent as much time with them as she could. Her seven grandchildren and one great-grandson were her world. Nothing lit up her face more than when they came to visit. She never ever forgot or missed a birthday . . . anyone’s, ever. Karen is survived by her husband, Joe; two sons, Brent and Brad; one daughter, Beth; sisters, Nancy, Barb and Trish; seven grandchildren: Ashley, Tyler, Haley, Ryan, Kirsten, Kyle and Kelsey; and one great-grandson, Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the Dwight Public Library. Online condolences may be made at hagermemorial.com