Karen Sue Franckowiak, 70, of Manistee, passed away peacefully on Saturday October 10, 2026 at Maple Ridge Manor, following a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She was born in Cadillac, MI on August 4, 1956, the daughter of the late Wilbur & Kathleen (Nolff) Elenbaas. Karen married Michael Franckowiak on May 1, 1982 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manistee. The two spent over forty-four happy years together. Karen and Mike enjoyed fall color tours, concerts and trips to Bortell’s, East Lansing and the Upper Peninsula. They were blessed with two children; Chris and Jeffrey. Karen was very proud of her sons’ accomplishments and was a guiding force in their lives.

Karen’s favorite childhood memories were of her many adventures with her siblings. They could often be found skateboarding, bicycling, climbing trees or otherwise causing mischief in the neighborhood. She fondly remembered hunting and fishing trips with her father, including many close calls with bees and cold days spent on frozen lakes. The recollections of trips to her grandparents’ farm in South Boardman always brought a smile to her face.

Karen was a graduate of the Manistee High School class of 1974. She attended Michigan State University and returned to Manistee, where she worked for nearly twenty years as a medical transcriptionist and insurance billing specialist at West Shore Hospital. Karen had the opportunity to further her education in 1995, when she enrolled at West Shore Community College, earning her Associate degree in Computer Science. She then transferred to Grand Valley State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, graduating with honors in 1999. Karen was the recipient of the “Outstanding Senior in Computer Science” award. She spent several years working as a software engineer, for Smiths Aerospace and Defense Industries in Grand Rapids, MI. There wasn’t a math problem she couldn’t solve, nor an academic lesson she couldn’t help others understand.

Faith and generosity were strong parts of Karen’s life. She enjoyed volunteering her time at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was a member and treasurer of the Ladies Society. She sang in the choir, tended to the gardens and could be found making countless arts and crafts to support the Harvest Bazaar. Karen also showed love and support for her community by cooking for Community Table and friends in need. Her bunny cakes, red hot Jello and baked beans will be sorely missed.

In her later years, Miss Karen (as she was affectionately known) also enjoyed gardening, sewing, baking, working on puzzles and attending her grandchildren’s concerts, plays and sporting events. She was an avid Michigan State Spartans fan.

Karen is survived by her husband, Michael; her sons Chris (Shannon) and Jeffrey (Jennifer); her grandchildren, Allison, Hunter, Bowe, Miles and Mason; her brother, David (Jennifer) Elenbaas; her sisters, Gloria Livingstone and Gail Harper; and her sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Robert Niedbala. She was also loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Kathleen; her sisters, Valerie Elenbaas and Cynthia Barkley; her mother and father-in-law Dorothy and Richard Franckowiak; and her brothers-in-law Jeremy Harper, Bruce Livingstone, and Steven Franckowiak.

The family would like to thank the staff of Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital, Manistee County Medical Care Facility, Maple Ridge Manor and Hospice of Michigan for their excellent care during Karen’s journey.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday October 17, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 420 Oak Street, Manistee, MI 49660. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A light luncheon will follow after. Interment will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Manistee Band or Fine Arts Boosters.

Arrangements by the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manistee.