Karen K. Ranger

1945 - 2021

Karen K. Ranger
Born: September 4, 1945
Died: November 7, 2021
On Sunday, November 7, 2021 Karen went with the Lord to her final resting place at her home surrounded by her loved ones.
Visitation will be from 9-11 A.M. Friday, November 12, 2021 at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home, 301 S. Park St. Streator.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Friday, November 12, 2021 at the Park Presbyterian Church, 201 N. Vermillion St., Streator. Rev. Caleb Suydam will officiate.
Cremation rites will be accorded following the services.
Her loving friends Betty Brassfield, Karyn Dzurison, Kathy Hombaker, Nancy McMillin, and Pam Sherman will serve as her "Angels".
Serving as pallbearers will be, Kevin Newman (son-in-law), Raymond (RJ) Dillman (grandson), Kyan Newman (grandson), Justin Lee, Ryan Krug (nephew) and Kevin Naughton.
Karen was born on September 4, 1945 at St. Joseph Hospital in Belvidere to Kenneth & Mary (Keister) Bates. She grew up on a farm in Garden Prairie, and as an only child, took on the duties of many chores that usually would be handled by a brother. Putting the Surge milking machines together for her dad before school, scrubbing the bulk tank out after school, raking and baling hay, disking the fields, rounding up the Holstein cows and many others.
Karen attended Denny School, a one room school house, for the first 3 grades then going on to graduate from Belvidere High School in 1963. During high school, she started her insurance career, in the work program at Tripp Insurance Agency. This career taking her to some 40 years in Streator, Phoenix, AZ and Ottawa.
She married Barry Koppen in 1965 and they had one child, Brian Dean. She later married James Ranger and in 1971they had a daughter, Theresa Ann.
Moving to Arizona with her children in 1982, she worked at CNA Insurance and then joined the Minard-Ames Insurance Agency. When she retired, she was Manager and partner in this commercial agency. After losing her husband, Jim, she met and moved "back home" with her loving companion of 23 years, Dan (Butch) Acuff.
Karen was always ready to "say yes" to whatever needed to be done. She was awarded the Maxine Wargo Volunteer of the Year award in 2020 for her efforts in the community. Among some of her endeavors were: Deer Park School Board, Hardscrabble Lions Club member holding various positions, Keeping Christmas Close to Home committee, Manager of the Cancer Patient Resource Center sponsored by Park Presbyterian Church, Grand Ridge Roundup Committee, Chaired and was involved in Relay for Life for many years, Served on the Illinois Task Force of the American Cancer Society, Member of the Walldog committee. She is a member of Park Presbyterian Church and has served as a Deacon and Elder as well as Finance & Properties Chair.
Karen is survived by her loving daughter, Theresa (Kevin) Newman of Waunakee, WI, her loving companion of 23 years, Dan (Butch) Acuff, grandchildren Kelsey (Justin Lee) Dillman of Gilbert, AZ, Tiffani Lynn Koppen of Apache Junction, AZ, Raymond (RJ) Dillman, Kyan Newman of Waunakee, WI and a great granddaughter, Raelynn Ranger Lee of Gilbert, AZ. Also loved ones Debra Krug and Pat Acuff and several nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ralph and Julia Keister, Cora Bates and Paul Bates, her parents, Kenneth and Mary Bates, and her husband Jim Ranger (1996) and her son, Brian Dean Koppen (1994).
She loved her family, as she put it, "My heart is full". She loved to travel and enjoyed fine dining.
Memorials may be directed to Park Presbyterian church Cancer Resource Center or Park Presbyterian Church.