Obituary: Karen Rose Tuomala

Karen Rose Tuomala, 65, passed on to her eternal home Oct. 15, 2021, at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Karen was born Feb. 11, 1956, to Michael and Violet (Korpi) Tuomala in Ely, where she was raised, the sixth of seven siblings. She attended Ely public K-12 schools and earned an associate of arts degree from Vermilion College as well. Karen then took nursing aide training and found she truly loved dealing with patients in nursing homes. Subsequently, she worked at several hospitals and nursing homes. She was compassionate and cared for the patients with deep caring and love. Following a disability that curtailed her nursing aide career, she worked for several years at the AmericInn as a clerk.

Karen's nephews and nieces were her first love, her "children." She loved each one of them with a deep and lasting love, as she did her cousins, especially those who grew up with her in the same era. They brought much joy to her heart. Karen also loved to write letters, ideas, even attempted to write a book. We recipients of her letters called them "epistles according to Karen." She was independent almost to an exasperating fault, but even more, she was our "Rose," "The Rose" was her song and she loved us all so unconditionally.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Patrick and James; nephew Kevin Kvien; niece Pamela Walton; and great-nephew, Silas Kvien.

She is survived by brother Michael (Sandy) Tuomala of Eveleth; sisters, Marian (Armin) Kvien of Cloquet, Bonnie (William) Kobe of Dillon, Montana, and Sara Cherne of Duluth; aunts, Bernice Price of Cloquet, Lillian Forcier of Aptos, California, and Anne Korpi of Minneapolis; uncle, Kenneth Billick of Waterloo, Iowa; five nieces and seven nephews; and many cousins and friends.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Tuesday, Nov. 9 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. A private family burial will take place at a later date.