Karen M.  Mueller, formerly Karen M. Beckingham of Antigo, WI, passed away comfortably and peacefully on January 16, 2021, in her home on her beloved Loon Lake near Spooner, WI, at the age of 78.

Karen was born on June 12, 1942, to the late Alfred and Velda (Rabe) Beckingham of Antigo.  Karen graduated from Antigo High School in 1960. While in high school she worked as a clerk along with her sister, Sandy, and other high school classmates at Hunter’s Supermarket in Antigo. Later in her adult years she worked with several different commercial cleaning services in the Stevens Point, Appleton, and Wausau, WI, areas doing sales work and working with cleaning crews.

On November 26, 1989, she was united in marriage to Mark Mueller of Spooner. In 1998 she helped Mark with the formation and startup of Botanic Innovations, LLC in Spooner, a company that produces high-valued extracts from botanicals having proven attributes for health and beauty. The company sells a variety of all-natural extracts to businesses in the health and beauty industry and now employs nearly 25 people. As a small startup company, Karen’s boundless energy, good cheer, enthusiasm, and tireless work ethic was put to task working in sales and customer outreach, something at which she excelled. She also packaged orders, did cleaning, office work, and even at times worked in production, monitoring presses in operation. She was very proud of her contributions to the company.

Karen was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Spooner. Karen was instrumental, along with others, in organizing the Loon Lake Association, a neighborhood association dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the natural environment of Loon Lake in the Town of Casey, Washburn County. Karen loved flowers and music, especially Elvis Presley music.

In addition to her husband, Mark, she is survived by stepson Loren (Julie) Mueller, daughter-in-law Laurie Royce; grandchildren: Rachel Royce, and Paul, Adam and Ashley Mueller; sisters Joan (Gary) Borneman of Weston, WI, and Pam (Barry) Parlier of Schofield, WI; brother-in-law Peter Spiegl of Greenville, WI; Becky Post (the daughter she never had); in-laws: Bob (Glenness) Mueller, Dorothy Mueller Sheehy, and Marge (Jim) Van Heuklon; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sons David Royce and Brian Royce and grandson Michael Royce; brothers Michael Beckingham, Larry Beckingham, Harry Beckingham, and Timmie Beckingham; sister Sandy Spiegl; and in-laws Mary and Robert Bodoh, Jean Mueller, James Mueller, and Dick Sheehy.

A celebration of life followed immediately by interment in the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial cemetery is planned during the Summer of 2021, the date to be later determined and announced.

In lieu of flowers, a donation is suggested to the Karen Mueller Scholarship Memorial to be used for Christian education of children in the Spooner area.

Karen’s ever-present good cheer and positive spirit in good times as well as bad will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Last Update: Jan 26, 2021 7:06 am CST