Karen Louise Murray Broadhead, born September 24, 1945, took her journey from this realm on January 24, 2015, after a courageous and determined battle with cancer.
A daughter to Leo Edward and Edna Eva (Everson) Murray, Karen grew up in Pepin, Wisconsin. She graduated Valedictorian from Pepin High School in 1963. In 1964, Karen married Michael Wilbert Julian of Maiden Rock, Wisconsin. Their union was blessed with three daughters: Heather Louise, Stephanie Michelle, and Rachel Carissa. They later divorced. In 1977, Karen married David Earl Broadhead. They resided in Prescott, Wisconsin with her daughters. During those years, Karen worked as an aid to special needs children in the Prescott School District. She and David later divorced. In 1987, she married Keith Albert Borgstrom of Pine Island, Minnesota. They resided in Las Vegas, Nevada where she worked for a physical therapy office, and then as an aid for special needs children in the Clark County School District. Karen and Keith later moved back to Ellsworth, Wisconsin, where she continued her calling of working with special needs children, this time in the Red Wing, Minnesota School District. Karen was known for the loving, devoted bond she shared with these children. Karen and Keith later divorced. Karen retired in 2012. She embraced this time by writing, visiting family, spending quality “grandma” time with her great-grandsons, relishing in conversation with the “Lunch Bunch”, and enjoying her weekly Bingo outing in Ellsworth.
Karen was a proud member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She was a gifted life-long writer. She published two books of poetry, entitled Reflections on the Wisconsin Side and Deeper Reflections, as well as a weekly submission of poetry entitled Marginalia in the Prescott Journal. Karen was a two-time winner of the annual Writer’s Read, a writing contest in Washburn, Wisconsin. She also wrote and read her poetry in various other venues throughout her lifetime. She greatly enjoyed the art of letter writing and card sending, and never missed a birthday or sending a word of encouragement. One of the highlights of her life was a 1974 motorcycle trip with David to attend the 100th running of the Kentucky Derby. Karen had a great love for animals, and was the keeper of many pets throughout her lifetime including a horse, dogs, a rabbit, a ferret, and many cats. Karen had a passion for butterflies, motorcycles trips, music, reading great novels, and loving her family and friends.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Edna; her brother, Eugene Franklin Murray; her second husband, David Earl Broadhead; and her special student and friend, Nathan Scott Schmidt.
Karen is survived by her three daughters: Heather (Tad Eggenberger) Julian, Bay City, WI; Stephanie Julian, Odanah, WI; Rachel Julian, Las Vegas, NV. Five grandchildren: Korrie (Dan) Szuberski, Red Wing, MN; Michael Gilliland, Bay City, WI; Kaleb (Elissa Devine) Julian, Menominee, WI; David (Cassidy Schmitz) Daleiden, Red Wing, MN; and Morgan (Mason Nordquist-Mills) Julian, Odanah, WI. Three great-grandchildren: Joey and Arlo Szuberski, and Lyric Julian. She is further survived by two sisters: Patricia (Jim) Wagener, Manawa, WI; Cynthia (Gerald) Baader, Pepin, WI; her uncle, Mike (Helen Church) Murray, Pepin, WI; her aunt Nancy (Paul Hutter) Anderson, Ella, WI; Half-brothers, Rollie, Sean, and Randy Murray, and Half-sister Sharon Trandy, and a host of nieces, nephews, step-children, cousins, and friends who loved her to the moon and back.
Services will be held on Saturday, January 31st, 2015, at 11:00AM at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 205 Pine Street, Pepin, Wisconsin 54759. Hill Family Funeral Home, Ellsworth, Wisconsin, is handling arrangements. There will be a private family interment in the spring at Oakwood Cemetery, Pepin, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family or to Rideability.org (therapeutic recreation for children with disabilities).