Steven Karren

Steven R. Karren passed away peacefully on May 13, 2023, surrounded by his family. Steve was born October 9, 1940, to Ted and Lois Karren, the oldest of their six children. He spent most of his childhood in Logan where he made close friends, fond memories, and attended Logan High school. He served an LDS mission in the British Isles and went on to study Civil Engineering at USU where he met his wife, Johnnie Whitt. On July 1, 1966, the two were married and sealed in the Logan Temple. He finished his MBA from Stanford and then moved to Virginia to fulfill military duties. His young family returned to Logan, where he joined his father’s business, Karren Oil Company, and had a rewarding career in the petroleum marketing business.

Steve and Johnnie raised their six children in a warm and caring home. He was a devoted father and taught his children to value education and appreciate, accept, and love each other. Many treasured memories were made houseboating on Lake Powell, camping at National Parks, visiting sites in the US, and traveling across Europe.

Steve was an active member of his neighborhood, ward, and community because of his deep love of serving others. His involvement in scouting and other programs provided mentorship to youth and he led various hiking, winter camping, and backpacking trips. Steve danced in his youth and kept in practice by taking ballroom dance lessons with his daughters, and even attended Zumba in his later years.

Steve and Johnnie delighted in meeting new people, especially those of diverse cultures. If they couldn’t travel abroad, they brought the world into their home through interactions with international and foreign exchange students. After retirement Steve and Johnnie traveled to Xian, China, to teach English and enjoyed being immersed in a new culture. They faithfully served a mission in the Chicago employment office, coaching people in their job search. Steve continued to teach conversational English to the spouses of university students and found this experience very rewarding.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Lois Karren, and his grandson, Christoph Oppermann. He is survived by his loving wife, Johnnie Karren, and his children, David (Shauna) Karren, Laura (David) Walton, Jason (Shannon) Karren, Rachel (Jason) Murray, Emily (Doug) Cox, Maggie (Scott) Buccambuso, and 19 grandchildren and his four brothers, Gary (Joanne) Karren, Dale (Janet) Karren, Lee (Kristen) Karren, Kent (Wendy) Karren, and sister Diane (Jesse) Hunsaker.

Steve’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to his loving and skilled nurses, aides, and caregivers, which included many of his grandchildren, Angella Campbell, Erin Hyde, Sue Palmer, Jenna Linford, Logan Kanigan, Kiernan Callister, Kayla Nelson, Kristine Rahden, Madi Cook, Tanner Roark, Tristan Manibog, Elliot Roberts, Hailey Bohrer, Rachel Anderson, Keilani Porter, Riley Howell, Madi Monsivais, Nathan Barber, Matthew Barber, Amy Anderson, Dennis Wildman, thoughtful friends and neighbors that visited, the kind staff at Autumn Care and Sunshine Hospice, and many others.

A viewing will be held the evening of May 19, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Allen-Hall Mortuary located at 34 E Center St, Logan. The following morning on May 20, 2023, a viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 am with funeral following at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel located at 1260 N 1600 E, Logan. Burial will take place at the Logan Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the English Language Center of Cache Valley (donate here: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E351958&id=1 ) or the Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection (CRIC) (donate here: https://cacherefugees.org/donations-area/donation ).

Funeral services will be livestreamed and can be viewed via the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83171875864?pwd=VUR5SHBPeDRqbXV1YVk0TS82TUVDQT09