Karen Marie Walter, 57, of Macomb, Illinois went to be with the Lord at 5:58 AM on February 17, 2024.
She was born on the 11th of May, 1966 to William (Bill) Russ and Marcia (Shaw) Russ in Manchester, Iowa. She married Dan Walter on the 31st of December, 1998 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Macomb, Illinois.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Russ. She is survived by her husband Dan, son, Bryce and daughter, Ainsley Walter. Also surviving are her mother Marcia Russ of Manchester, Iowa, sisters, Diane (Dan) Roling of Earlville, Iowa, Linda (Greg) Lahr of Delaware, Iowa, Cheryl (Rick) Dietiker of Hopkinton, Iowa and brother, Steven Russ of Manchester Iowa.
Karen graduated from Maquoketa Valley High School 1984 and then the University of Iowa 1988 where she received a Bachelor of Science in athletic training. She was awarded the Eddie Wojecki Achievement Award in 1990. This award is given to the individual who achieved the highest score in the nation on the National Athletic Trainers Association certification exam. She earned her first Master’s degree at Western Illinois University in exercise science while working as the assistant women’s athletic trainer. She served as the Director of the Athletic Training Program at W.I.U. for one year. Following her time at W.I.U. she worked for several years as an athletic trainer in both Bakersfield, California and Corpus Christi, Texas before returning to the University of Iowa to complete another Master’s in physical therapy.
After graduation she worked as a physical therapist in Rockford, Illinois for a brief time before returning to Macomb to take a physical therapist position at McDonough District Hospital. She worked for M.D.H. for six years before moving to Advanced Rehab and Sports Medicine in Macomb. She spent her time at Advanced helping everyone she could recover from all types of injuries and surgeries.
Karen spent much of her time outside of work helping others. Whether she was volunteering for one of the numerous organizations she was involved with or just offering a hand to a friend, she was always busy. There was rarely a time she was not doing something for someone else. Though out her children’s school years, she was involved with just about every school related organization from St. Paul’s Home and School Association, to the Bomber Boosters and the Macomb FFA Alumni Association. Regardless of her position, she always looked for ways to build the organization and help members achieve their goals. From selling consessions from the trunk of her car, to taping ankles on the soccer pitch, to holding after hour sessions in the clinic so an injured athlete could (hopefully) play the next day, people knew Karen would go the extra mile for them. In this and many other ways Karen positively affected thousands of lives.
Throughout her yearlong battle with cancer, Karen was continually asked, “What can I do to help”? Most often the answer was nothing at this time. That has changed. Karen’s final wish was: Please do not send flowers! If you would like to help preserve the memory of this wonderful lady, consider a donation to the newly created Karen M. Walter Memorial FFA Scholarship. This will be an annual award given to a richly deserving senior in the Macomb High School FFA program. Karen felt strongly that FFA helped mold her own children into the highly functioning adults they are today. She promoted the FFA program by being a member of the FFA Alumni Association and worked tirelessly to make sure FFA at MHS was able to flourish.
Memorials and donations can be made to: Macomb FFA Alumni in Honor of Karen Walter. These can be mailed to: 201 W Carroll Street, Macomb, IL 61455, dropped off at the Dodsworth, Piper, Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb, or brought to the visitation or funeral at St. Paul’s Church in Macomb, IL. Visitation will be from 3-6 PM on Monday, February 19th at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. A Funeral mass will be held at St. Paul’s at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 20, 2024. Father Adam Stimpson will officiate. Karen will be buried in her home town of Delhi, IA on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. Please sign guestbook or leave condolences at www.dodsworthfh.com
