Karen Mary Maloney, 83, passed away on March 6, 2025, after a brief bout with colon cancer. She was a strong and feisty woman, a talented musician for 70+ years, and a loving mother and grandma.

Karen was born in Brainerd, MN, on November 12, 1941. She celebrated her Norwegian ancestry as her father immigrated to the United States from Olden, Norway when he was a young man. She was raised in Brainerd, where she attended Washington High School, graduating in 1958. She met the man who became her husband and father of her twin girls, Tom Maloney, in St Joseph, MN, when she attended the College of Saint Benedict.

Karen lived an adventurous and full life, living in Alaska for 20+ years, Hawaii twice for 3 years total, and finally Colorado, where she lived for 37 years.

Karen moved to Fairbanks, AK with Tom where she gave birth to twin girls in 1968 and received her BA degree in Music, English and Philosophy in 1971 from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Karen raised her twin girls in Homer, AK, in a log cabin situated on acres of land, including a beautiful hillside overlooking the bay and the glaciers. She became an integral member of the musical community, playing in orchestras and a string trio, as well as many impromptu musical celebrations with friends. She taught at Homer Elementary School, inspiring future musicians, as well as taking her students on field trips to pick berries, make marmalade, and teaching them about mushrooms and digging clams. She enjoyed a dear friendship with a fellow musician and school janitor, Paul Banks, who the school was subsequently named after. She collaborated with Jill Berryman (dancer) and Karla Freeman (visual artist) to turn Otto Kilcher’s mechanic shop into an art center called the Art Barn and taught music to generations of Homer kids with Mary Epperson at the Etude Studio. She also put her English degree to work as a legal assistant to Marty Zeller. She formed many strong friendships in Homer and enjoyed gardening, picking berries, preserving food, hiking, camping, sunbathing (when AK weather cooperated) and kayaking. She enjoyed making food from all around the world all while cooking in a small cabin without running water.

Karen moved to Grand Junction, CO in 1987. She worked in real estate, ultimately becoming a broker and founding her own real estate business, Blue Spruce Realty. She also was a violinist with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra for several decades and during this time also taught piano and violin to countless students.When Karen wasn’t playing her violin or selling houses, she enjoyed being outside and hiking, running, camping and cross-country skiing in the mountains, looking at the stars, and spending time with family and friends. Karen always had a pet (dog or cat) and found quirky/independent/wild pets and gave them love and a home.

Karen is survived by her twin daughters, Mariah Maloney (Stephan Koen) and Lara Maloney (Rob Carson), and her beloved grandson TJ Carson. She is also survived by her sister Julienne Loney of Brainerd, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents, Anders and Julia Solheim.

Karen was very proud of her twins and their accomplishments and especially proud of her grandson TJ. She will be missed by many lifelong friends and her family.

A Celebration of Life will be held this summer in Homer, AK. Virtual options for attending will be shared.

Gifts of remembrance can be made to the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra. To donate, please send a check made out to the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra and put Karen Maloney in the memo. The address is 412 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. To donate online, go to http://gjso.org/support. Please indicate that your gift is in honor/memory of Karen Maloney.