Karen Louise Seibel
March 02, 1943 - December 14, 2025
Obituary
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Karen's Livestream Service will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Scroll down to the Webcast section and click on “Watch Now.”
MADISON - Karen Louise Seibel, born March 2, 1943, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died in Madison on December 14, 2025, at age 82. Karen attended University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Madison General Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her nursing degree. Karen worked for nearly four decades at Meriter Hospital in the obstetrics ward, where she cared for special care mothers and babies. She believed passionately in women’s health care and the profession of nursing.
Karen was married for 47 years to her beloved husband, Oscar Seibel, whom she lost after a long illness two years ago. She is survived by her son, Christopher Bakken, his wife, Allison Bakken, and their children, Sophia, Alexander and Theokritos; and her son, Aaron Bakken, and his children, Dahlia, Gwendolyn, Isabelle, and Liam; and her daughter, Heidi Michel, her husband, Kyle Michel, and their daughter, Saskia; and her siblings, Daniel Meier, Kristine Winkler, and Debra Watkins. She was predeceased by her parents, Eugene and Mabel Meier of Monroe, Wis.
Karen was famous for her generosity, warmth, love of family, and her Christmas cookies. She always seemed tireless, and her loved ones rarely succeeded in getting her to sit down. Her experience as a nurse made her uniquely qualified to nurture everyone she met, especially her own children and grandchildren. She grew up the eldest child on a small dairy farm in Monroe, learning to drive a John Deere tractor at a young age. She was a gifted accordion player and a blue-ribbon pie-baker. She and Oscar followed their kids across the world, enriching their lives through travel, while also acquiring an extended family locally and abroad. She was introduced to her husband, Oscar, by Van and Judy Valaskey, their long-time friends. Though diminutive in stature, everyone understood that her energy, spirit and love were boundless. Karen’s family wishes to thank the ICU staff at Meriter Hospital for their care during her final weeks.
A celebration of life will be held at ST. MARTIN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2427 Church St., Cross Plains, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON CROSS PLAINS FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2421 Church St., Cross Plains, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, and also at the church from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service on Sunday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Martin’s Lutheran Church. In the spirit of the season, those attending the visitation and funeral are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for WayForward.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson Cross Plains
Funeral & Cremation Care
2421 Church St.
(608) 798-3141