Karen Rossman was born in Tomah, WI on March 11, 1959 to Howard and Mary (White) Barnharst. Karen passed away suddenly on March 26th 2022, at the young age of 63. She was a fighter until the end!
She spent her childhood on her parents’ dairy farm, where she played with kittens more than she did her daily chores. Once she graduated from New Lisbon High School in 1977, she enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Base in Michigan. This is where she met her (ex) husband and had two little girls, Holly Anne and Heather Therese.

She became a stay at home mother who enjoyed being a mom not just to her girls, but to the neighborhood kids as well. She always decorated for every holiday and made the best sugar cookies and caramel corn for Christmas. She was a baker at heart and made everything from scratch, which was something she learned from her parents. 

Karen saw the joy in things that others did not. She was always optimistic about life. After raising her girls, she became an apartment manager and caretaker. She was a jack of all trades; she knew how to fix anything and everything and if she didn't, she would find a book that would help her learn how to. She loved her family and friends, planting lots of flowers, taking care of cats and playing lots of bingo. She was kind, understanding, humble, and generous. Karen was the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She will forever be missed.

Karen is survived by her daughter Heather (Jason) Cozad, grandchildren Hailey, Allen, Alexandria, and Lily, mother Mary, brother Robert, sisters Susan, Anita, and Colleen and their respective families. Preceding her in death is her father, Howard Barnharst and daughter, Holly Arnold (Rossman).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a local animal shelter or your favorite charity.