Karen Lowe, 71, a longtime Colfax area resident, passed away at Whitman Hospital on Monday, March 7, 2016 after battling cancer. Karen Lorraine Sackmann was born December 2, 1944 in Lind, Washington to William and Martha Kautz Sackmann. She grew up in the Lind area and went to school there. Following high school, Karen married Dennis Baker, and the couple had two sons. They moved to Washtucna and later to LaCrosse. Karen worked as a dispatcher for the NACA trucking company out of Dusty. Karen was well organized and liked working with numbers. This talent led her to a job in the bookkeeping department of Arrow Machinery and later as a bank teller for the Bank of Whitman. Karen, Dennis and the boys liked to go camping. She also enjoyed ceramics and quilting. She was a talented painter and photographer too. Karen owned and operated a restaurant in LaCrosse for a brief time. Dennis passed away August 28, 1984. Karen met Daryl Lowe through a mutual friend and after dating for a time they married on June 10, 1989. They made their home in LaCrosse for a few years before moving to the Manning area near Colfax in 1994. Karen loved her Irish Setters and she had 6 dogs compete at shows in Seattle and other places. She loved to travel to the dog shows. Karen was proud to have 3 AKC Champions and 1 Grand Champion over the years. She had a long career at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax that spanned over twenty years. She worked in the accounts receivable department and later was often seen in the admissions department. Co-workers remember her as a perfectionist. They said she was always decorating her office and that she loved Christmas. She retired from the hospital December 31, 2012. Karen and Daryl traveled some in their trailer and they liked to follow the grandkids in their activities. They moved to the Spokane Valley about one year ago. She is survived by her husband of nearly 27 years, Daryl, at their Spokane home; 2 sons, Bill (Terri) Baker of LaCrosse and Robert Baker of Indian Valley, ID.; 3 step-children, Bob (Heidi) Lowe, Colfax, Jeff (Kelly) Lowe of Steptoe, and Jennifer (Butch) Booker of Colfax; 7 grandchildren, Jennifer, Andrea, Vance, Hayden, Kami, Reagan and Cotton; by her 2 brothers, Norman and Richard Sackmann. In addition to husband Dennis, she was preceded in death by her sister, Darlene, and by a nephew Doug Rehn. No funeral services are planned. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Whitman Hospital Auxiliary. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is caring for the family.