Karen Mae (Gifford) Siler, age 66 of Baldwin died peacefully Saturday, December 25, 2010 surrounded by her loving family at the Baldwin Area Medical Center.

Karen was born on May 25, 1944 in Menomonie; the daughter of Durward and Esther (Fuhrman) Gifford.  She attended school in Downsville and Menomonie.  On January 30, 1965 she was united in marriage to Donald Siler at the First Evangelical Lutheran church in Manhattan, Kansas.  This marriage was blessed with two children, Mindy and Ron.  Throughout the years she supported her family by being a homemaker and working outside the home.  Karen enjoyed decorating cakes, painting, playing board games, watching Wheel of Fortune and solving puzzles.  Her favorite pastime was doting on her seven grandchildren; whether it was attending their special events, sewing doll clothes, making ginger bread houses or simply spending time with them.  During their retirement years, Don and Karen enjoyed spending the winter months in Sarasota, Florida.  She enjoyed walking on the beach, riding bike and making new friends. 

She is survived by her husband Don Siler of Baldwin, daughter Mindy (Brian) Jacobson of San Antonio, Texas and son Ron (Angela) Siler of Roberts, WI; grandchildren Noel, Taylor, Dalton and Dallas Jacobson and Morgan, Gabe and Aaron Siler; six brothers and sisters; 25 nieces and nephews; longtime friend Dee VanSomeren.  She was preceded in death by her parents and infant brother Leon.

Funeral services will be on Thursday at 11:00 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Lovestrand officiating. Burial will be in the Rosehill Cemetery in Downsville, Wisconsin. Active casketbearers will be Taylor Jacobson, Dallas Jacobson, Dalton Jacobson, Rich Creaser, Wally Cutler, Dick Siler, and Jerry Siler with honorary casketbearers being Cindy Younker, Judy Lewis, Deb Campeau, Dee VanSomeren, Wayne Gifford, Vern Gifford, Gabe Siler, and Aaron Siler. A visitation will be held at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Baldwin on Wednesday from 4pm-7pm and one hour prior to the funeral on Thursday morning. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society. Funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Baldwin, 715-684-3434.