Karen G. Kaio

Karen G. (Swancutt) Kaio, age 82, passed away surrounded by her family members on Tuesday September 12, 2017.  Karen had fought against Alzheimers and Dementia for the past several years. She was born on May 7, 1935 to Vernon and Elvina (Sime) Swancutt.

She lived in La Crosse most of her life only moving to Hawaii for a few short years before returning to the Coulee Region.  She was an artist and musician at heart and loved to spend her time surrounded by the Arts. Some of her work can be seen in the holiday Bethlehem Event hosted by English Lutheran Church which she helped paint. She loved music and taught herself to play both the piano and the violin; which she played throughout her lifetime-instilling the love of music into her children and grandchildren. She was an avid local theatre goer and she supported the theatre community in the area. Karen also was an animal lover. She had a love especially for horses, which she was able to foster when she helped to manage Irish Hill Stables for a time. But through all of her loves she was a teacher at heart. She held a life teaching license and taught both Science and Mathematics classes at Lincoln Middle School for several years before she took time to raise her children and work in the family business. Later in life she returned to teaching in the La Crescent School District before she retired to spend time with her family and grandchildren.

Karen is survived by her children Derek W. (Kim) Kaio, and their children: Tarl John Kaio (mother was Robin Moses) and Shane Kaio (Robin Moses) and Kaden and Brisa Kaio. Kam-Lin (Dominic) Roswall and their two children Max and Sydney Roswall. She is also survived by a brother and two sisters -Brian Swancutt,  Susan Schmidt and Ruth Lynn Guzman.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband John A. Kaio and her parents Vernon and Elvina Swancutt.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 21, 2017, in Hardies Creek Lutheran Church, 18481 North County Rd. DD, Ettrick, Wis. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. South, la Crosse, Wis. Visitation will also be from 10:00 AM until the time of services at church on Thursday.

Memorials may be made to The Coulee Region Humane Society in lieu of flowers.