Karen J. Otto

Surrounded by her family, Karen Joyce Otto, of Newberg, Oregon and Hampton, Virginia, passed away on May 9, 2025 at Providence St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Karen was born on January 13, 1943, to Clyde and Irene Vadnais (nee Kulju) in Ishpeming, Michigan. After the early death of Irene in 1945, Karen was raised by both her father, and her mother's family. She considered her seven aunts and uncles as surrogate parents, and fostered strong lifelong relationships with the extended Kulju family, taking great pride in her Finnish heritage. She attended Ishpeming High School, and then Washington State University, where she met the love of her life, Norman John Otto, on a Lutheran student's retreat to Mount Hood. They married on December 29, 1963, and had 61 years and two children together. Norm's military career gave them the chance to live across the United States, including Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Knox, Kentucky; and Port Huron, Michigan, making lifelong friends at every posting. They settled in Hampton, Virginia in 1984, and remained there for 41 years. They recently relocated to Newberg, Oregon to be closer to their children and extended family. Karen was endlessly creative; she took great delight in time with family and friends, especially many honorary grandchildren as her cousins, nieces and nephews from both sides of the family had children and enlisted her help. She was especially pleased to acquire official grandchildren upon her son's marriage in 2023. She set high standards as a hostess, and gave endless volunteer hours at her church and Bible studies. Those who received her numerous letters and care packages will be finding glitter hearts for years to come. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Shelly Lyons and brother David Vadnais; and, the Kulju aunts and uncles (Rey, Anna, Ethel, Ruth, Bill, Alice and Hugo) who filled pivotal parental roles in her life. She is survived by her husband; her sister Sue Mosier of Marquette, Michigan; her daughter, Kari Kylene Otto of Redding, California; her son, Karl John Otto and his husband Aaron Tabacco of Vancouver, Washington; and her grandsons, Ethan, Noah, and Micah Tabacco of Battle Ground, Washington. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 31st, at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver, Washington, at 10:00am. Reception to follow at her son's home. There will be an additional memorial service at her longtime church home of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Hampton,Virginia, on June 7th at 11:00am; with a reception to follow onsite. Karen requested that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to remember her would make a gift to their own favorite charity with her in mind, or to her favorite charity: International Cooperating Ministries (ICM.org).

Karen J. Otto

January 13, 1943 - May 9, 2025