Obituary of Karen Rose Tuomala

Karen Rose Tuomala,65, passed on to her eternal home on Friday, October 15, 2021, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale.

Karen was born February 11, 1956 to Michael and Violet (Korpi) Tuomala in Ely, where she was raised the sixth of seven siblings.  She attended the Ely public schools K-12, and earned an Associates in Arts degree from Vermillion College, as well.   Karen then took nurses’ aid training and found she truly loved dealing with patients in the nursing homes.  Subsequently she worked at several hospitals and nursing homes. She was compassionate and cared for the patients with deep caring and love. Following a disability that curtailed her N/A career, she worked for several years at the AmericInn as a clerk.

Karen’s nephews and nieces were her first love, her “children”. She loved each one of them with a deep and lasting love. As with her cousins, especially those who grew up with her in the same “era”.  They brought much joy to her heart.  Karen also loved to write letters, ideas, even attempted to write a book.  We who were recipients of her letters, called them “epistles according to Karen”.  She was independent almost to an exasperating fault, but even more, she was our “Rose”…”The Rose” was HER song…and she loved us all so unconditionally!

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Patrick and James; nephew, Kevin Kvien; niece, Pamela Walton; and great nephew, Silas Kvien.

She is survived by brother, Michael (Sandy) Tuomala of Eveleth; sisters, Marian (Armin) Kvien of Cloquet, Bonnie (William) Kobe of Dillon, Montana, Sara Cherne of Duluth; aunts, Bernice Price of Cloquet, Lillian Forcier of Aptos, CA, and Anne Korpi of Mpls; uncle, Kenneth Billick of Waterloo, IA; 5 nieces; 7 nephews; and many cousins and friends.

Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. memorial service on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14^th Street, Cloquet.  A private family burial will take place at a later date.