Karen was born on May 7, 1938 in Minneapolis, MN and died on May 19, 2024 in Covington, WA. She graduated from Cleveland High School in 1955. She married (Clarence) Al Lunder in 1958.

Karen earned a B.A. in Art Education degree from the University of Washington in 1961. She taught English in Seattle while her husband finished his degrees. She then raised 3 children doing a great deal of volunteering, including with the Girl Scouts of America, and teaching art at the local schools. She was a substitute teacher from 1977-1979. She went back to school in 1980, earning a Graphic Arts Certificate at Highline Community College/Praxis School of Art in 1983. She worked as an art director's assistant at Red Dot, a Graphic Artist at Kwik Kopy Printing, a freelance artist and a photographers assistant at Kent Photographers. She earned a Mechanical Drafting Certificate from Renton Vocational Technical Institute in 1990 and worked as a CAD drafter at Robert Shinbo Associates. She then continued to work as a substitute teacher for many years. She served on the Renton Arts Commission and was very active in the League of Women Voters.

Karen enjoyed playing bridge, hiking, skiing and traveling with her husband and her family.

Karen is survived by her children, Erin Simkus (Dave), Erika Gundersen (Emil) and Mark Lunder (Pam). She is also survived by her brother Ken Phillipps (JoAnn) and her sisters-in-law Edith Deshaw and Ruth Robbins.

Karen will be missed by her loving grandchildren John, Amy, Jennifer, Alex, Danny, Serena, Brian and Jason and also her great-grandchildren Quinn, Victor, Alexis, Eric and Heidi, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Contact the family for memorial service details.