Doreen Karels, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away June 3, 2026 at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD, surrounded and embraced by the love of her family.  She was 90.

Doreen Mildred Karels was born October 6, 1935, in Ortonville, MN, to Hugo and Cecelia (Radermacher) Strei. She grew up on a farm near Rosen, MN and graduated from Bellingham High School. She earned her teaching certificate in June of 1954 and taught at a country grade school in District #98.

On June 28, 1955, she was united in marriage with James Karels in Rosen, MN. The couple farmed together in Milbank, SD, and raised six children. As the children got older, she worked as a school librarian and then at the local public library. She always felt that reading was the gateway to learning and instilled that love of reading in her children. In 1999, the couple moved to Sioux Falls.

Her hobbies and interests included: traveling, cross-stitching, fishing, gardening, making sweaters for the family on the knitting machine, card games, making the old family recipe of peanut croquettes, and enjoying many family get-togethers.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Sandi (Randy) Ahrendt of Renner, SD; Denise (Eldon) Planteen of Canton, GA; Paul (Shari) Karels of Milbank, SD; Mark Karels (Bernie) of Hendersonville, NC; Lisa (James) Greene of Hudson, SD; Michelle (Ken) Newell of Sioux Falls; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Marlys (Virgil) Hoffman and her brother Denis Strei. She was preceded in death by her parents Hugo and Cecelia; husband James; grandson Bryan Ahrendt; great-grandsons Gabriel and Michael Karels; siblings: Willard Strei, Harold Strei, Lola Mae Karels, Wesley Strei, Lou Anne Hollis.

In honor of Doreen, in her memory, she would ask that we all love our families well, be grateful for the gifts we have been given and to see the beauty, joy, and humor in this life.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcome memorial contributions made to: The American Diabetes Association or the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 am Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1501 West 26th St, Sioux Falls, SD, immediately followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 am.