Karen Kobes Bowen, age 86, of Elgin, IL, passed away on November 25, 2024. She was born October 7, 1938 in Lewiston, ME to her loving parents, Herbert and Helen (née Nichols) Kobes.

Karen attended both Lawrence University in Wisconsin and University of Illinois-Champaign, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also studied occupational therapy at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked as an occupational therapist and the University Hospital in Madison for ten years.

Karen met her husband, Ronald, at University of Illinois when he was working as a busboy at the Delta Gamma sorority house where she lived. They were married 64 years.

Karen was very intelligent, caring, kind, and organized. She was also adventurous and outdoorsy. For her 70th birthday, she went waterskiing!

Karen enjoyed gardening, reading, hiking, baking, and biking. She loved to spend time at their cabin on Blue Lake near Minocqua, WI, volunteer at the Olbrich Gardens, and do water aerobics with her “Bobber” friends at the Harbor Club.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; and sister-in-law, Hedva Kobes. She is survived by her husband, Ronald Bowen; children, Tori (Paul) Lewis, Sara (Greg) Spaight, and Kip (Elizabeth) Bowen; brothers, David Kobes and Pete (Linda) Kobes; grandchildren, Andrew (Pam) Germanetti, Rebecca (Jared) Venier, Scott (Gabrielle) Germanetti, and Benjamin (Victoria) Bowen; great-grandchildren, Emilia Venier, Linnea Venier, and Isabelle Gotangco-Germanetti; and cousins, Kate (Gregg) Dohrer and Richard (Janie) Kobes.

Interment will be private.

Final arrangements entrusted to Symonds-Madison Funeral Home. For more information, call 847-741-1128.