Karen Larson Walsh

A Gathering of Friends for Karen Larson Walsh, 69, of Bull Shoals, Arkansas will be from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday, July 31st at Kirby & Family Funeral Home in Bull Shoals. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 1st at 10am at Kirby and Family Funeral Home in Bull Shoals, with burial immediately following in Newton Flat Cemetery. Karen passed away at her home on Thursday, July 25, 2013.

Karen was born on May 11th, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois to Charles and Marie (Macich) Larson. She attended Riverside-Brookfield High School in suburban Chicago where she first met Jim Walsh. They dated throughout High School and College, and Karen graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois in 1965; Jim attended Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. They married others, but got together again (via internet contact) in 2002. In late 2002, she moved from her longtime home in Riverside, Illinois to Bull Shoals. Karen’s parents had bought their family home when they retired to Bull Shoals and Karen and Jim moved into that home in 2002. They were married in 2005 in Mountain Home Arkansas. Karen was a Social Worker (MSW) and worked for several companies in the health care field, including HCA of Nashville, Tennessee. She was active in the local WOW women’s group, and the Bull Shoals Police Auxiliary, where she served as president for a time. Karen was also an active volunteer at Hospice of the Ozarks

She is survived by husband, James Walsh of Bull Shoals, AR; sons, Michael Novy (Karen) of Hinsdale, Illinois and Steven Novy (Karen) of Oswego, Illinois; sisters Ingrid Peternel (George) of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Arlene Pytko (John) of Gold Canton, Arizona; aunt, Frances Macich of Berwyn, Illinois and four grandchildren, Madeline, Sarah, and Charlotte Novy and Jevin Carsow.

Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services.