Karen Klenberg

Karen was a beautiful person, physically and spiritually, and a wonderful co-worker: friendly, patient, wise, resourceful, good-humored, even-tempered.

As a fellow nonptraditional student, she encouraged me and offered sympathy when I was struggling, which gave me strength.

She enriched my life by that and in other ways during the very brief time I was privileged to know her.

May the part of her that lives on in you be a source of comfort.
...

To all who loved Karen:

The night of Karen's passing I was moved to read this passage about friendship:

Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay".
And...

Karen was a ray of light and joy... taking life in stride, celebrating the joys, and knowing the hardships would be overcome in due time. I miss her smile, easy laugh, and energy. I was honored to know her. I am sure her daughters have heard this many times now, but your mother loved you so dearly. No matter what happened at work, the two of you were foremost in her mind and thoughts. There was never any ambiguity or question about what was most important in her life... the two of you. She...

Dearest Mr.& Mrs.Klenberg, Melissa, Danielle and all Karen's family and friends who are missing her so much as I am with you. Karen loved each of you so and I heard endless praise of how wonderful her daughters are and what they meant to her on a daily basis as we worked just an office apart at the BRRC and exchanged greetings,laughs stories, sometimes even frustrations each day and they got better!Karen is still with us so strong in spirit as I am still numbed by her so rapid passing,but...

To Karen's Family,
Just yesterday I got some photos back from my pre-wedding party and there was Karen singing and playing the tamborine during karaoke. That is what I am going to remember - that liveliness! My deepest and most heartfelt condolences. You are in my prayers.

Dear Klenberg Family,

You had a remarkable daughter, mother and sister. She was a gift to all those who knew her.

Just judging from the grief being experienced by her friends and colleagues here in Gainesville, I know that you must be suffering because of this unfair and unexpected loss.

I wish I had some means of reducing the suffering that you are feeling, but all I know to say is that I am sorry and that although this gift was taken away...

To Karen's Family,
I extend my deepest condolences to you. I knew Karen for about 3 years from her work with me at the Brain Rehabilitation and Research Center. Her smile, laugh, enthusiasm, curly hair and pink purses lit up our lives and also the hearts of the patients with whom she worked. Karen was a good friend to many of us and a great therapist to her patients. I will miss her life on this earth and am blessed to have known her. My prayers are with you.

Dear Max, Nancy, Danielle and Melissa-
I have been a co-worker of Karen's at the Brain Research Center for a couple of years now. She was always such a wonderful friend to me and helped me through a very difficult time. I am so sorry that we will not get to see her infectious and energetic smile everyday. My thoughts are with you and I am so sorry and sad that such a wonderful person had to leave you, and the rest of us, so soon. I wish you peace.

Max and Nancy,
Karen's smile and love for life will always be in my heart and are a part of her life's legacy that will always remain. Karen was so very excited about completing her CCC's for her Speech Pathology License. We spent several hours talking about her options and she had settled on pursuing private practice. She had made several phone calls to others in the community to pursue this goal and was getting a very positive reception/feedback from all she contacted. I'll never...