Karen Diane (Ulander) Andersen, 67, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026, in Carmel, IN. She was born on March 20, 1958, in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Woodrow and Helen Ulander. Karen moved to Kirkland, WA in 2011 where she resided for thirteen years before she moved to Carmel, IN in 2024.

Karen attended Rockford East High School, graduating in 1976. While attending East High, she was selected as a member of the East High A Capella choir and also sang in the Madrigal Ensemble choir. Karen also participated in the annual Operetta during her four years at East. She loved to sing and said that it brought her peace to her life. Karen went on to obtain her degree in nursing from Kishwaukee College. She worked as a dedicated registered nurse at Rockford Gastroenterology, Rockford Memorial Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente (Bellevue, WA) over the course of her almost 30 year career. Her compassion and love for nursing brought much comfort, support, and healing to those who needed it most.

She loved the simple things in life, sitting by the pool in the sun with a margarita, playing blackjack in Las Vegas, spending time with family and friends, and walking her dog by the lake. She also enjoyed cooking, traveling, and planting flowers every spring. Karen would fondly recount her love of ice skating as a young girl and how her dad took her to the Rockford Ice Chalet and later to the Wagon Wheel for ice skating lessons. This was always a very special memory of their father/daughter time together as she learned how to skate.

She is survived by her children, Ryan (Alyssa) Lauterbach of San Jose, CA, and Kelly (Chris) Fus of Carmel, IN; her brother Dennis (Mary) Ulander of Milwaukee, WI; and her sister-in-law Jayne Ulander of North Bend, WA. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Perry Ulander.

A graveside service will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Scandinavian Cemetery, on Rural Street, Rockford, IL, 61107. The family was assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory. To share memories and condolences online, please visit, www.fitzgeraldfh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in Karen’s memory.

Karen will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.