Karen Cartwright

Karen Sue Cartwright, 69, of Moline, IL, passed away September 25, 2023, at Park Vista in East Moline, IL. Cremation rites have been accorded. A funeral service will be held at noon on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church, Moline. There will be a 1-hour visitation starting at 11:00 a.m. and a luncheon will follow after the service.

Memorials may be made in Karen’s name to Bethel Wesley United Methodist Church or the Rock Island County Animal Care and Control.

Karen was born in Moline, IL, on August 24, 1954, to Bob and Theresa (Bauguess) Greer. She graduated from Moline High School in 1972 and Southern Illinois University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Karen loved working with small children and was a Head Start teacher in Rock Island for 20+ years.

On December 29, 1973, Karen married Max David Cartwright. They spent their first years together in Carbondale, IL, and Mount Vernon, IL, before returning to the Quad-Cities in 1979. Max died in 2015.

Karen was passionate about music; she saw the Grateful Dead annually from 1971 to 1995 and, in later years, regularly attended The Woody Guthrie Folk Festival in Guthrie's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma. She loved hiking in the outdoors, especially the Shawnee Forest in southern Illinois. A devoted animal lover, she had many beloved pets to which she gave a happy home. Karen was a lifetime member of Bethel Wesley Methodist Church in Moline, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday School.

Survivors include her two sons, Jacob Cartwright (fiancée Adrienne Jimenez) and Neal Cartwright; sister, Pat (Dave) Gustafson of Moline; sister-in-law Bonnie Vols of Moline; and several nieces and nephews.

The family extends their gratitude to Park Vista staff and Unity Point Hospice for their compassionate care of Karen in her final days.

Peace, dear Karen

Condolences may be expressed at wendtfuneralhome.com