Karen Wakefield

Karen Wakefield, 76, of Galesburg, died at 2:20 a.m. Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice House in Peoria.

She was born August 7, 1940, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Harvey and Margaret (Mellecker) Christiansen. She married Rev. Bob Wakefield on August 17, 1957, in Muscatine.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Bob; two daughters, Diana (and Tim) Bledsoe and Terri (and Kevin) Hamman, both of Galesburg; four grandchildren, Amber (and Mike) D’Angelo, Kyndal Hamman, Charity Bledsoe, and Nathan Hamman; two great grandsons, Cooper D’Angelo and Griffin D’Angelo; and a brother, Robert Norton of Fort Madison, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her father; her mother, Margaret Christiansen Norton; and a sister, Nancy Eitman.

Karen graduated from Muscatine High School and Mount Vernon Bible College. She had worked as a nursing home administrator and as a marketing director. She also proudly served as a co-pastor, along with her husband, since June of 1964. They have been at Foursquare Gospel Church in Galesburg since 1971. Karen was a reading buddy at Nielson School. She was an election judge for many years. Karen was a devoted Green Bay Packers fan.

Visitation will be 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 24, 2017 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 1:30 p.m. Her son-in-law, Tim Bledsoe, her grandson, Nathan Hamman, and family friend, Calvin Randle will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Foursquare Gospel Church or the Reading Buddy Program at Nielson School. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.