Karen Sydow

Karen Anne (Wolochek) Sydow passed away peacefully on November 23, 2014
at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth, Minnesota. Her sons and husband were at
her side.
Karen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Walter J. Wolochek and Dorothy E.
(Walslager) Wolochek on May 25, 1943. She graduated in 1962 from Holy
Angels Academy High School in Milwaukee. Upon graduation, she was
employed by the Raymond C. Fischer Shipping Company.
She met Daniel Sydow through the shipping business and they were married in
Milwaukee on April 23, 1966. Dan and Karen moved to Chicago, Illinois where
their sons Steve and Luke were born. In 1974, the Sydows settled in Duluth and
founded Daniel's Shipping Services. The family operated business continues to
thrive and support the Duluth international shipping port.
Karen loved gardening, spending time with her grand-daughters, hunting for
agates, beachcombing, snorkeling, shopping, winning at casinos, spending time
at the lake on the pontoon boat and traveling with her family and friends.
Karen and Dan shared many travel adventures to pursue snorkeling, including
travel to: the Hawaiian Islands, cave diving in Belize, Fiji, The Cook Islands,
Guatemala, New Zealand, Cayman Islands, Caribbean Islands, and the islands
of Utila and Roatan in Honduras. In the USA, they ventured too many southern
and western states in their own single engine airplane. There were numerous
trips into Ontario on fishing trips with Dan. Karen, and her sister Jody, also made
many trips over the years to the southwest and enjoyed trail riding on horseback.
Travel to Las Vegas and other casinos around the country became an annual
tradition for Karen, her family and friends. She felt especially fortunate to share
her passion for travel with her sons and grandchildren (Isabelle and Elise
Sydow). One of her favorite trips with her grandchildren was to the Magic
Kingdom in Florida during the Christmas season.
Karen will be missed by her husband, Dan; sons, Stephen (Barbara & granddaughters: Isabelle and Elise), Luke (Erika): her mother, Dorothy Klug; her beloved sister, Jody Zaffke, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, Aunt Marge and Uncle Clarence Walslager.

The family would like to thank the oncologists at the Mayo Clinic, St. Luke's
Hospice, Essentia Hospice and, especially, he caring staff at Solvay Hospice
House.
A celebration of life will take place Monday December 1, 2014 from 5-7pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth. Celebration will continue Tuesday from 10am to the 11am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph's Church-Gnesen, 6110 Church Rd., Duluth, MN 55803
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Solvay Hospice House c/o
Miller-Dwan Foundation, 502 E 2nd St. Duluth, MN 55805.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, (218) 727-3555.