Obituary of Karen Jagodinski

It is with sadness, but with the joy of The Resurrection, that we announce that Karen Valleskey Jagodinski died to this life on earth on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at The Renaissance in Wisconsin Rapids. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 19th at St. Luke?s Lutheran Church. Rev. Thomas Graves will officiate. Interment will be at the Forest Hill Mausoleum. Karen was born June 26, 1939 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Marjorie (Youngchild) Valleskey and Norbert Valleskey. She graduated from Lincoln High School, Manitowoc, and attended Milwaukee Hospital School of Nursing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids. She also studied child care and was a Certified Child Care Giver. Karen was married to Richard Jagodinski on her birthday at Hope Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan. Karen and Richard had four children: Jeff Richard, Jay Robert, Jennifer Ruth, and Kathryn Rose. After marriage, the Jagodinski?s resided in Cincinnati, Ohio and West Bend, Wisconsin before moving to Wisconsin Rapids. Karen was employed in the health care profession at The Cincinnati Pediatric Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, and the West Bend Medical Center before becoming a full time homemaker. Besides raising her family, she was occupied by various volunteer positions. Karen taught Sunday school for ten years, and was a Girl?s Pioneer Leader for many years. During the years she volunteered at Head Start, West Junior High, Riverview Hospital Escort Service, Meals on Wheels, The Diabetes Support Group, and Edgewater Haven where she spent many hours. The positions she enjoyed most were the companionship of her husband and raising her children. Karen loved dogs and always had them in her home. Her activities were traveling with her family, camping, downhill and cross-country skiing, reading, knitting, and other craft projects. Karen especially enjoyed sketching, painting, and music and spent years at the South Wood County YMCA where she participated in many sports. Karen is survived by two sons: Jeff Richard Jagodinski and Jay Robert Jagodinski; one daughter: Jennifer Ruth Jagodinski; nine grandchildren: David, Martin, Taylor, Erin, Nicholas, Maria, James, Kathryn, and Abigail; two sisters: Kathy (Cal) Stone of Madison and Kay (Roger) Zehms of Milwaukee; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and best friend of almost 50 years, Richard; her father, Norbert W. Valleskey and mother Marjorie (Youngchild) Valleskey; and one infant son, Jonathan, who died at birth. Friends may call at St. Luke?s Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday. Memorials may be designated to St. Luke?s Lutheran Church, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.