Karen (Wilkie) Millenacker

Karen Millenacker, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and courageous woman fought her valiant fight against breast cancer for 29 years. Never once throughout this marathon did she utter a single complaint. Her fortitude was unmatched. Her motivation to raise her two children, Jason and Alicia with her loving hand and to teach them to be respectful and polite was the drive that gave her the motivation and perseverance to keep going–even after numerous health setbacks. She was truly an inspiration to her husband of 44-years, Dan, her children, and to all who knew her.

Karen, the daughter of Delmar and Elsa Wilkie, Austin, MN, was born in Rochester, MN in 1958. Upon retirement from a career as a small business accountant, she moved with her husband to Sarasota, FL from Bloomington, MN in 2020. She passed to a forever presence in our memory on November 13, 2024.

Karen, a graduate of Austin High School, Class of ’76, is survived by her husband, Dan Millenacker, Sarasota, FL & Burnsville, MN; son, Jason Millenacker and wife Kaitlyn Egan, Minneapolis, MN; daughter, Alicia Salemy and husband, Justin Salemy, Palmetto, FL; sister, Sue Hanson, Austin, MN; brothers Bill Wilkie, Hollandale, MN and Steve Wilkie, Thailand; nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother and father Elsa and Delmar Wilkie, and brother, David Wilkie.

Visitation will be one hour before the service scheduled for 10 am on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 13801 Fairview Drive, Burnsville, MN 55377. Interment will follow later in the day in a private family gathering at the Spring Valley Cemetery, Spring Valley, MN. Karen will be laid to rest amongst five generations of her family dating back to her twice great grandfather on her mother’s side who was born in Germany in 1851.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, 411 2nd St. NW, Rochester, MN, 55901. This was a special, comforting place where Karen stayed in 2019 during a 6-week course of radiation treatments administered at the Mayo Clinic.

She will remain forever in our hearts.