Obituary of Karen Joyce Cato

Karen Joyce Cato (78) transitioned peacefully at her home in Minnesota with her daughter at her side on June 8, 2021. She had been diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer on April 4, 2021.

Karen was born in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, the child of Anker and Gladys Hansen. As a teenager, Karen was active in the 4H Club of Glenwood Springs. She was a prize-winning seamstress, upholsterer, and cook. She placed 2nd in a national cooking contest in Washington DC for which she prepared a multi-course Norwegian meal. She was a cheerleader and chosen for Girls State. Her future husband, Ronald Cato, was also chosen for Boys State that year. The two married in 1967 and gave birth to one daughter, Kristin.

Karen graduated from Colorado State University - Fort Collins with a Bachelors of Science in Anthropology, and from the University of Northern Colorado with a Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. She moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1969 to serve a fellowship at the Sister Kenny Institute and so her husband could attend graduate school there. She had a visionary and impactful career as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Qualified Rehabilitation Consultant, working for many years in the State of Minnesota Department of Jobs and Training. Deeply committed to social and racial justice, she uplifted lives in poor communities by helping them find jobs and job training. In the words of her friend Nick, “She kicked ass at getting people jobs!” She did a little dance in the hallway outside her office every time one of her clients got hired. She had a special interest in helping others overcome substance addiction on their way to further success.

Karen later worked in the Minnesota Department of Employee Relations, Safety and Workers’ Compensation, consulting with employers on safety issues, writing policy that advocated for victims of work injuries, and getting injured workers back into the job force. When doctors and nurses at the University of Minnesota birthing center suffered repeated injuries on the job, Karen suggested a new method for women to give birth standing up by using a platform, which was adopted by the hospital.

She approached the world with unbound enthusiasm. She was a downhill and cross country skier, sailboater, and loved to dance. She enjoyed interior design, gourmet food, art, theater, travel, and Prince. She and her husband backpacked through Mount Zircle, Isle Royale, Yellowstone National Park, Canadian forests, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. She dressed with flair and pizzazz, wearing large hats, loud patterns, and chunky necklaces. Her open-mindedness and extroversion matched her fashion sensibility. She found solace in gardening until the end.

Most of all, Karen loved people and thrived in their company, friends and strangers alike. She could befriend anyone quickly, and draw them out in confidence. She instilled in her daughter confidence and independence. She expected things to be done thoroughly and expertly, and she’d fight for it. We will miss her authenticity.

Karen is survived by daughter Kristin, brother Norman, niece Eirika, dog Lulu, and devoted friends. Her parents and brother Keith preceded her in death. Future celebrations of life will take place in both Minnesota and Colorado, on dates yet to be determined. Please contact Kristin at kristincato@yahoo.com for more information. Any donations will support Black Lives Matter, an issue close to Karen’s heart.