Karen Vander Galien

Karen Vander Galien, 63, of Waupun, passed away from a five year battle with cancer on April 14, 2022 at her home.

Karen was born March 24, 1959 the daughter of Wallace and Helen (Mulder) Neevel. Karen graduated from Waupun High School in 1977. After high school she went on to get a technical degree in Computer Science and worked at Monarch Industries. She had two children from her first marriage, Jessica and Justin Lehman. She loved her children so much and raised them single handedly until she met Dean. In 1990 she moved to Waupun from West Bend and began working on a degree in Nursing. On June 27, 1992 she married Dean Vander Galien at Immanuel Reformed Church in Waupun. Dean brought two children from a previous marriage, Emili and Jory Vander Galien. She went on to have two more children with Dean, Matthew and Aaron Vander Galien, making them a blended family of eight. Karen always loved every child equally and cared for them so much. She helped Dean raise his own children and Dean helped her raise her children and their own two boys. Karen enjoyed homeschooling her two youngest boys, cooking for the family and baking with her children all the time, and she was an amazing cook. She believed entirely in a natural, homeopathic lifestyle and had a couple small home businesses; selling home cookware, cooking products, and giving therapeutic massages and selling essential oils. She took multiple courses and became certified in giving her therapeutic massages. She was deeply involved in her church and enjoyed the many close friends she made there. She loved waving the banners in church and worshiping the Lord both in church and out. She had a life motto of: "His Banner over you is LOVE". She liked camping, singing, biking, gardening, knitting, spending time with friends among many other hobbies. She loved music and always loved listening to peaceful and relaxing worship music.

Karen is survived by her husband of 29 years, Dean; six children: Jory (Vanessa) Vander Galien, Emili (Danny) Parmelee, Jessica (Alejandro) Contreras, Justin Lehman, Matthew (Secret) Vander Galien, and Aaron Vander Galien; seven grandchildren: Victor and Luana Vander Galien, Stella and Hadessah Parmelee, Evelyn and June Contreras, and Charlie Vander Galien; two brothers: James (Dawn) Neevel and Stan (Marlys) Neevel; six brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Sam (Sylvia) Vander Galien, Mary (Dennis) Greenfield, Wayne (Linda) Vander Galien, Betty Westra (Rob Kuiper), Pat (Ted) De Jager, and Lois (Norris) Aalsma; lots of nieces and nephews and good family friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents.



Friends and relatives may call on the family on Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of service.


Funeral services for Karen Vander Galien will be held Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Edgewood Community Church in Waupun with Pastor Mike Giebink officiating.


Burial will follow at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun.




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