Karen Banaszewski

Karen J. Banaszewski, age 75 of Hastings passed away peacefully on June 9, 2015, at home in Hastings, surrounded by family, after fighting pancreatic cancer valiantly for over three years.

Memorial service will be 4 pm Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at Cottage Grove UCC, 7008 Lamar Ave, Cottage Grove with visitation starting at 2 pm until the time of service. Private interment will be at Newport Cemetery.

Karen was born June 7, 1940 in St. Paul, Minnesota to G. Herbert and Lillian (Christensen) Dombrock. She grew up in Newport and attended Park High School and the University of Minnesota. She had an entrepreneurial spirit, and in addition to raising her family, pursued a variety of opportunities, including working for Northwest Airlines, Northwest Aerospace Training Corporation (NATCO), Vermillion Insurance and LPD Electric. She was a consultant for Ramsey County and Versa-Lok, and owned businesses including Banaszewski Construction Co., B&B Pizza, and AccuSpread, Inc. She thoroughly enjoyed life, including traveling, music, projects, and spending time with her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, G. Herbert and Lillian Dombrock, and brother James Dombrock. She is survived by children Denise (Peter Truog) Banaszewski, Michael Banaszewski, Carrie (Frank) Tate, and grandchildren Sophia and Mark Tate.