Karen J. Mcclean

She was born Nov. 22, 1962, in Dunkirk, the daughter of the late Clarence and Ruth (Dillenkofer) Kachermeyer.

A lifelong resident of the area, Karen was a graduate of Dunkirk High School, class of 1980. She had been employed at the Chautauqua County Home.

Survivors include her loving companion, James E. Karlstrom; five children: Amanda (Ryan) Bracy of Dunkirk, Aaron (Ashley) McClean of Fredonia, James Karlstrom Jr. of Orlando, Fla., Philip (Alyssia) Karlstrom of Lake Mary, Fla., and Kyle (Dan) Karlstrom of Orlando, Fla.; two sisters: Donna (Don) Lindhorst of Fostoria, Ohio, and Paula Kachermeyer of Dunkirk; three precious grandchildren: Henry, Eloise and Jackson; and several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Joseph and Carl Kachermeyer; and her sister, Clara Shire.

Karen had a loving heart and a charitable soul. She had a love of bears, and made contributions to many causes supporting their preservation. (Appalachian Bear Rescue and Polar Bear International.) She and Jim shared 19 years together building their home and life together in Laona. In 2020, they welcomed two rescue kittens saved from a barn, Gracie and Red.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held immediately after the calling hours at noon. The Rev. Scott Wise will officiate. Burial will be in Laona Cemetery, town of Pomfret.

In lieu of flowers, Karen requests donations for the Little Angels Animal Sanctuary in Mayville.