Obituary of Karen Chopp

Karen Marie (Steffend) Chopp, of Cambridge, fought hard and fought long against cancer, and now she is at peace. This remarkable mom, daughter, sister, and friend passed away on May 1, 2007, at the age of 53. She will be missed forever by her children, Jamison (20), Maria (17), Anna (14), and former husband Mike Chopp. She is irreplaceable in the lives of her mother, Ruth Steffend of Cambridge, her sister and brother-in-law Joan and Joe Brandmeier, nieces Blair Steffend and Jordan Brandmeier, aunt (and godmother Helen Nelson, cousin Jana Westergren, and countless more who will miss her infectious laugh, her warmth, and her love. Her beloved father, Robert Steffend, died before her in 1998. Karen was born on June 26, 1953 in Fort Madison, Iowa, but moved to Cambridge in 1957 and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1971. The years between were filled with horse rides, canoeing, camping trips, cross country skiing, biking, swimming, and friends. She called her childhood "ideal" here in Cambridge. Karen attended college at the University of Minnesota (Duluth) and at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, eventually getting both undergraduate and graduate degrees. She worked as an environmental engineer for Kimberly-Clark in Appleton, Wisconsin and Atlanta, Georgia before returning to the Cambridge area in 1999. Here, she worked as an independent environmental consultant and at Sun-Opta. She was a founding partner in the Rendezvous Coffee Shop in Isanti �" a job that allowed her to combine two of her loves �" food and people. Karen lived for her family, friends, and pets. In her 53 years, she has cuddled, loved, and spoiled innumerable dogs, cats, horses, llamas, rabbits, and even the stray peacock. We will all miss that love �" both her two-legged and four-legged friends. She battled cancer for almost twenty years with hope and incredible persistence. She never complained and never gave up hope that she would be healed. Special thanks go out to the people who stood with her and gave her hope �" specifically Dr Diana Sabella-Schluessner, Dr Pat Lawler, and all her caring friends and family who believed with her. Karen loved all animals with a passion and they loved her, so we ask that memorials be made to the Humane Society.