Alanah Karpen

Alanah Lee Karpen, age 74, of Willmar, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 17, at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the A/G Church in Willmar.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Alanah was born on December 25, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Legrand and Merle (Hoffman) Lull.  She grew up in Minneapolis, graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1963 and attended Waldorf College, Augsburg College, Ridgewater College, and Crown College, earning degrees in music and early child education.  In 1970, Alanah was united in marriage to John Paul Karpen III.  They made their home in Minneapolis and in 1985, she moved to Willmar.  Alanah was employed over the years at I & M Landscaping, Hillenbrand Nursery, the Willmar Bus Company as a para professional and at Poppa Jon’s Coffee House.  She was a member of the A/G Church in Willmar and volunteered at the Women's Shelter House and the Bargains and Blessings Thrift Store.  Her hobbies included gardening, opera music, playing the piano, reading and studying the bible.

She is survived by four children, Deb Larson, Matt Karpen, Paul Karpen and Abigail Karpen; and three grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Jeanne.