Karen Lee McKeegan Obituary
As the sun rose on May 18, 2026, Karen McKeegan (Wade) passed peacefully in her home from vascular dementia; she was 70 years old. She spent her final hours surrounded by her beloved family and devoted husband.
Karen was born March 12, 1956 in Canonsburg, PA to Edmund & Fran Wade, joining their growing family of 6 children. She was a shy but active child, with a thousand childhood stories of her exploits with brothers and sisters. Karens family would live in many places including Newell, WV, Las Vegas, NV and Tulsa, OK, finally settling in Reno NV. She enjoyed a close connection with many cousins and distant relatives.
It was in 1974 when she met Kevin McKeegan while working at Arlington Towers in downtown Reno. Immediately they fell in love. As the story goes, they married on April 18, 1974, just 9 days after their first date. Together they made their home in Reno & Sparks for more than 52 years. Thirteen months after their marriage, their first daughter, Kristina, was born, soon followed by their second daughter, April. She treasured her role as a mother and homemaker for her family. As her family got older, she took on new roles outside her home: she made pizza, painted houses, and even dressed in costume as a "dump your date" service. But it was her work with children in an emergency shelter facility that provided the greatest reward.
As her children left the nest and began families of their own, she found joy volunteering in the community and serving at her church. Karen was a passionate Christian and wanted everyone to know the love she knew in Christ. Karen and Kevin were always together, enjoying more than 52 years of marriage. They enjoyed weekend outings and international travel. Their marriage was filled with all the joy, challenges, adventure, and heartache that comes from a life well lived.
When her role shifted from mother to grandmother, it was clear her grandchildren were the light of her life and she had no greater joy than spending time with them. She was never without her "Grandma bag" and you never knew what she may find in there - a snack, craft project, finger puppets, a storybook, or a game. She gathered her grandchildren every spring to plant flowers in her garden. She loved nothing more than to see her grandchildren smile and light up with excitement. Even as dementia robbed her of her memories, she would still sparkle with recognition as her grands spent time with her in her final months.
Karen made sure you knew there was always room at her table. You were welcome to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Eve cookies, or a savage game of Uno. Her front door was always open, and if you tried to knock, she'd always yell "Come in – you never have to knock!". Her heart for the lost and the lonely was well known, in fact she sought them out and made them feel at home, and the legend that she once took off her shoes and gave them to a homeless man on a rainy day was completely true.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents Edmund & Fran Wade, and is survived by her two daughters, Kristina McKeegan Nierman (Michael) and April McKeegan-Garcia, both of Sparks NV, as well as sisters Nancy Bradshaw and Tammy Ingraham (Joe) of.
Reno NV, sister Marilyn Wade of Rogue River, OR, brother John Wade of Sparks NV and brother Jack Wade of Southern NV, as well as grandchildren Kira and Aidan Nierman, and Elise/Asher & Eva Garcia-McKeegan, all in Sparks NV.
A memorial Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM, at Summit Christian Church, 7075 Pyramid Hwy in Sparks, NV.
A memorial tree was planted in memory of Karen Lee McKeegan.
