Karen Mae Ross, 87, of Ames, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Northcrest Community in Ames, Iowa.

Services will be Saturday, Sept. 20th at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ames, IA, with a memorial service at 10:30 am, followed by a Gathering & Lunch from 11:30 to 1:30 pm. Interment will take place at ISU cemetery at 2:00 pm.

Karen Mae (Paulsen) Ross was born June 3,1938 in Galva, Iowa, to Roland and Florence (Eggen) Paulsen. She was raised with her four siblings (Lowell, Duane, Judy, Lynette) in Galva, IA. In high school, Karen played basketball on the women's team and made it to the state tournament in Des Moines. Following high school, she attended Iowa State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Home Economics Education.

While attending Iowa State, Karen met Richard Ross, whose sister, Janet, was her roommate. The couple were married on September 1, 1957, at St. John Lutheran Church in Galva. They had two children, Scott Alan and Susan Renee. The family lived in Ames, with short times in Montana and a year in Germany.

Karen returned to Iowa State, earning a second degree in Dietetics, and balanced managing the family with working part time as a dietitian at both Mary Greeley Hospital and Marshalltown's medical center.

Karen was an avid ISU sports fan, especially basketball & football. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, entertaining family and friends, and was a very good cook! Karen, with Dick, was a long-time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ames, serving in many ways including singing in the choir. She volunteered and supported many charities and organizations over the years. She served as a Cohort as well as Cohort President at Reiman Gardens in Ames, which the family all enjoyed visiting.

With the arrival of their grandchildren, Karen & Dick spent many months each year in Pasadena, CA. One of the great joys of Karen's life was spending time with, and helping raise her grandchildren, Otto and Hannah. She and the entire family were regulars at the Pasadena farmer's market.

Karen and Dick enjoyed traveling together, both within the US and internationally. Some of her fondest trips included those to Turkey, Spain and a trip to South Africa/Zambia/Zimbabwe with a good friend from Pasadena. She appreciated art, especially ceramics and sculpture, and music. Later in life she was a member of several book clubs. She enjoyed reading (both fiction and non) and lively discussions of books with her friends. Reading the Sunday New York Times (paper version!) was a fun routine for Karen and Dick on Sunday afternoons, exchanging comments while they read.

Karen is survived by her husband, Dr. Richard (Dick) Ross, DVM, of Ames; her children, Scott Ross, PhD of West Covina, CA, and Susan (Mark) Otten of Peoria, IL, and her grandchildren, Otto Ross of Arcadia, CA and Hannah Ross of San Luis Obispo, CA; Mark's children, Noah Otten (Peoria, IL), Nathan Otten (Peoria, IL), Luke Otten (Peoria, IL), Katherine Otten (St. Louis, MO); her brother, Duane Paulsen of Grand Detour, IL, her sister, Judy (Joe) Baines of Omaha, NE; along with nieces and nephews, other family members, and friends.

Karen's parents, brother Lowell Paulsen, sister-in-law Viola (De Boer) Paulsen, sister Lynette (Paulsen) Ford preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers and other remembrances, Karen requested that memorial contributions be directed to Feed the Children Fighting Childhood Hunger | Feed the Children and sent to: The Family of Karen Ross, c/o Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA, 50010.