Karen Simonson Obituary

Long-time Juneau resident Karen Irene Simonson, 73, passed away at her home surrounded by family on November 11, 2021 after a long battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, David Simonson, children: Cynthia Dugger and husband, Rex, of Juneau; Rusty Simonson and wife, Buni, of Anacortes, WA; Scotty Simonson and wife, Erica, of Juneau; and Tony Simonson of Ft. Worth, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as well as her sister, Carol Whelan, and husband, Doug, of Juneau; brother Tom Stephens and wife, Karla, of Roseburg, OR; and brother Jim Stephens of WA.

Karen's family came to Juneau in the 1940s and homesteaded in the Mendenhall Valley. She attended school in Juneau and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1966. Her stepdad, Archie Stephens, owned a flight service where Karen learned to fly a Cessna. She logged many flights, including a solo to Yakutat. She married her childhood sweetheart, David, in 1968, and they happily settled in to raise a family. She worked at a number of jobs through the years, but her true joy was having the privilege of being able to stay at home and raise her four children. She treasured every moment with them and, later, with her grandchildren.

She loved cooking, gardening, crochet, and watching the sunset on her deck with a glass of wine. She loved to travel and was especially fond of road trips with David in their RV.

Karen was an active member of the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and enjoyed helping others learn about the Bible's positive message and hope for the future.

She will be remembered as a selfless, altruistic wife and mother who always had a smile, even in difficult times. Her generous and kind spirit will be greatly missed by those who knew her.