Karen Malin

KAREN L. MALIN

Karen L. Malin, age 57, of Wiscoy Valley, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the Gundersen Health System Hospital in La Crosse.

Karen was born on November 3, 1957, in Boone Grove, IN, the daughter of Harry and Ruby (Struebel) Casbon.  She was united in marriage with Michael Malin on June 23, 1984 at their home in Wiscoy Valley.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Winona State University, and also completed post-graduate studies in social work with Winona State. Although she did not practice professionally as a social worker, she was always available for phone consultations with family and friends.

Karen was employed by Gundersen Medical Foundation as an intervention specialist for a groundbreaking study of remediation of dyslexia using the initial teaching alphabet (i.t.a.), a phonetic alphabet that represents the 44 sounds of the English language. At the conclusion of this three-year study, Karen worked as an instructional tutor for the Houston County Group Homes, continuing to use i.t.a. for development of reading and writing in persons with autism.

She will be remembered for her extraordinary ability to connect with struggling readers, and her love of reading, writing, and gardening. After the death of her mother-in-law, Karen became the family birthdate keeper, and family members could always count on a phone call from her on their birthday.

Karen is lovingly survived by her husband, Mike; son, Tyler (fianceé Marla); sister: Sandy (Don) Gentry; brothers: John and Bob Casbon; her extended Malin family; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM on Sunday, November 1, 2015, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home.  A reception will follow at the Athletic Club.

Honorary Pallbearers will be: Dan and Kevin Ratajczyk; Keith and Dustin Jonsgaard; Mike and Tim Flynn; and Joel Malin.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Karen’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.