Karen Horan

Karen Ann Grow Horan, 83 years of age, of Altoona, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on March 7th, 2025. Karen was born on August 4th, 1941 to Norman and Maxine Grow in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Karen was married to David Arthur Horan who preceded her in death on November 14th, 2021. Together they often traveled north or out west in their pick-up camper. Adventures were always on the 'path less traveled'. Whether it was to a small-town thrift sale or an out west adventure, we were always ready to break and turn down that dirt road!

Karen earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and the University of Minnesota. Following teaching in public schools, she joined the UWEC faculty in 1978 and over the course of 27 years served as Head of the Art Education Program, teaching art methods classes, supervising student teachers, and developing many Continuing Education classes for teachers. She retired in 2004 as an Assistant Professor Emeritus. She loved her students and many continued to reach out to her throughout the years.

Karen was most proud of her work with Native peoples in Wisconsin and the Southwest. In 1990 she developed and facilitated the first course in the University of Wisconsin system for the implementation of Public Bill #31-The Wisconsin Indian History and Culture Act. This was followed by five classes developed with the intention of promoting the history and culture of Native Americans. Three courses featured the art and culture of the Ojibwa in Wisconsin, two field studies in the Southwest featured the art and culture of the Pueblo, Navajo and the Hopi Native peoples, and one featured the artwork of a Lakota artist in conjunction with the Foster Gallery Exhibition she curated in celebration of the new UW-Eau Claire Indian Studies Major. Post retirement Karen developed, applied for, and received a U.S. Department of Education grant to promote a partnership between agencies of higher education (UWEC) and school districts in Northern Wisconsin. Students from the Red Cliff, Bad River, and La Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservations were enrolled in the school districts of the participating teachers. She has also participated in Service-Learning opportunities to teach in schools on the Navajo Reservation from 2009 to the present. She so loved sharing her stories from her time as a road scholar, continuing her passion of teaching art to children.

Karen was gifted with the WAEA (Wisconsin Association for Educators of Art) Higher Education Art Educator of the Year award in 1994, the Distinguished Service Award in 2018, and in 2020 was awarded the Distinguished Fellow award. Throughout her years of membership, she has presented, along with many of her art education students, at WAEA state conferences, four national (NWEA) conferences, and one international (INSEA) conference in Hamburg Germany.

She is the author of the book, Eulogy to the Wisconsin Barn, and the altered photographs from her book have been exhibited in UW-Eau Claire's Foster Gallery, at the Washburn, WI Museum

and Cultural Center, and in the UW-River Falls Chalmer Davee Library. When Karen wasn't traveling, she most enjoyed spending time with family & friends, especially at the family cabin on Lake Superior, WI.

Karen is survived by her son Mark David Horan; daughter Kelly Ann Horan Speckien (Rick) of Osseo, WI; grandchildren Kyle, Kimberly, Anna, Sam; and great grandchildren Daniel and Brooke; other relatives and friends and her loving little dog Annie.

A Celebration of Life for Karen will be held from 10:00 - 1:00 on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at Castle Rock Barn, S12360 Young Rd, Osseo. Memorial contributions will be given to beloved charities in Karen's memory or donations can be given to a charity of the donor's choice.

Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com