Karen Jean Hamand, 78, of Rochester, MN, died Saturday, July 3, 2021 at home surrounded by family.

Karen was born in Lime Springs, IA, October 12, 1942 to Lyle and Violette (Krueger) Reinhart.  She graduated from Crestwood High School in 1961.  She married Larry Hamand May 20, 1962 at the United Methodist Church in Cresco, IA.  The couple moved to Rochester, MN in the fall of 1962 and made their home there.  Karen was a daycare provider for close to 30 years and over the years had more than 200 children in her care.

Karen loved her daycare and received the Daycare Provider of the year award in 1991.  She watched all her grandchildren until they were in school fulltime.  Karen also enjoyed genealogy and created and maintained family tree information for both sides of the family.  She loved gardening, the Minnesota Vikings, Elvis, Jimmy Fortune, and Mickey Gilley.  In retirement, Karen and Larry enjoyed traveling the US with many trips to Branson, MO.

Karen is survived by her husband, her children Ken (Carla), Scott (Sandy), and Dawn (Rick) Freshwater; 16 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren.  She is proceeded in death by her parents, her sister Beverly Neubauer, a niece, in-laws Kenneth and Margaret Hamand, sister-in-law Maxine Steffen, and a grandson William.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30am Tuesday, July 13, 2021 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Nancy Wheeler Handlon officiating.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.  Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com