Karen Sue Budde
Karen Sue Budde, 64, passed away peacefully on October 7th, 2026 at MUSC hospital in Charleston, South Carolina with family at her side. She was a hardworking, adventure seeking individual who will be greatly missed.
Born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Thomas and Rosella (Wolters) Budde, Karen went to Sacred Heart grade school, St. Mary’s Springs High School and then graduated with a nursing degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. She soon moved to Denver, Colorado, where she began her career in nursing. For four decades, she served as an emergency room psychiatric nurse at Denver General Hospital, where she had the chance to work with some very interesting people, both co-workers and patients. Through it all, she treated her patients with compassion, dignity, and respect, trying to make a difference in their lives and following her mantra to treat all patients as if they were family members.
Her compassionate heart and her love for travel took her on sabbatical to Romania, where she helped with the founding of Fundatia Increderea, a school outreach, with educational programs focused on substance/drug abuse prevention, anti-bullying, and youth self-worth, and counseling services for recovering addicts. She spent 17 months working with the organization in Oradia, Romania, and returned on an annual basis to lend her support.
Beyond her career, Karen was an avid traveler who was always ready for the next adventure. She loved the outdoors, exploring new places, and sharing her travels with family and friends. Places that were less traveled were her favorites.
A little closer to home, one of Karen’s favorite times was her yearly trek to White Lake, Wisconsin, where she could spend a week on the beach reconnecting with her entire Budde family, including the nieces, and nephews. After retirement she moved to South Carolina.
Throughout her journey, Karen was blessed with the love and support of family and friends. She devoted her professional life to caring for others, embraced the world with an adventurous spirit, and treasured her faith and the family who meant so much to her.
Karen will be deeply missed, forever loved, and always remembered.
She is survived by her father, Tom (Marguerite Sing) Budde, her siblings: Paula (Joe) Wick, Kevin (Juli) Budde, Jill Budde Freund (Jim Lindberg), and Mark (Jodi) Budde, and her nieces and nephews: Ellen and David (Maddie) Wick, Colton Freund and Katrina (Mike) Toth, Tyler and Ethan Budde.
Karen was preceded in death by her mother and her grandparents.
Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 200 S Peters Ave, Fond du Lac, WI. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at 11:00 AM. Inurnment will be at Calvary Mausoleum.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to a Catholic charity or St. Vincent de Paul Society in Karen’s name.
Online condolences may be offered at www.zacherlfuneralhome.com.