Karen Sue Stroud (65) of Effingham

Print

Published on January 14 2019 4:01 pm

Karen Sue Stroud, 65, of Effingham, IL passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, January 13, 2019.

Karen was born on December 15, 1953 in Evanston, Illinois to Wayne and Mary Tipsword of Effingham and grew up with her 6 siblings at Lake Sara. She graduated from Beecher City High School in 1972 and began her law enforcement career as a telecommunicator for the Effingham Police Department. On May 19, 1973 she married Henry Leroy Stroud of Effingham in Eminence, MO.

Karen leaves behind two children, John (Amanda) Stroud and Holly (Ryan) Finney and a step-daughter Deb (Mark) Moschenrose. She continued her 35 year law enforcement career and retired in 2007 at the rank of Master Sergeant for the Illinois State Police. Karen was an avid runner and completed numerous half and full marathons. She loved to travel with Leroy to their Florida home, spend her mornings drinking coffee and working on crossword puzzles. Karen was known for her zest for life and love of crazy hats. She was passionate about spending time with her grandchildren and was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish.

Karen is survived by her husband, Henry Leroy Stroud of Effingham; son, John (Amanda) Stroud of Effingham; daughter, Holly (Ryan) Finney of Effingham; step-daughter, Deb (Mark) Moschenrose of Effingham; grandchildren, Jakob Stroud of Mahomet; Avery Stroud of Effingham, Owen Finney of Effingham, and Zoey Finney of Effingham; step-grandchildren, Albert (Cassie) Digregorio of Effingham and Nicklaus Martin of Effingham; siblings, Kathy Lilly of Altamont, Jane Tipsword of Springfield, Arlene (Marvin) Kocher of Springfield, Andrew (Lisa) Tipsword of Pittsfield, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents Wayne and Mary Tipsword and her brothers Donald and David Tipsword.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 19 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Private burial will be held in Pleasant Grove Cemetery on Moccasin at a later date.

Please make memorial donations to Fear Nothing at http://www.fearnothing.life/. Online condolences may be shared at by clicking here.