Karen Marie Klay (58) of Wausau passed away on Sunday, Nov 29th.  Karen was born Nov 6, 1962 to Steven and Violet Medvecz.  She attended St. Mary's/Cabrini Middle School in Wausau and graduated from Newman High School in 1981.  Karen worked at Perkin's in Schofield from the day they opened in 1979 until they closed permanently in 2019.  Karen was known as the "Best Waitress Ever" and she truly was.  The day before working a holiday shift, Karen would make her customers a special card or pick a little gift to leave with their tab.  She truly loved people, she worked hard every day and brought joy to so many diners.  She never quite recovered that loss, of not being able to see her customer friends daily, they loved her dearly and she them.  She did later work a short time at the Green Mill however, due to a COVID closure, she was still anticipating their re-opening in the future.  As a young girl, Karen was the life of the party, she lit up the room with her sense of fashion and flare.  She was always and to the end kind and thoughtful and instantly turned strangers to friends.  Karen loved to make pretty cards and I'm sure many of you reading this can think of a surprise card received for no reason other than to find out that Karen was "Thinking of You"!   She was an extreme coupon and thrift shopper.   Friends and family never walked out of her house without shampoo, dish soap, or chocolate candy. She also loved to bake and cook and would serve her food on fun dishes she found at some sale.   She was a collector of angels and porcelain hands, so fitting as she truly was an angel always willing to give a hand.  Some hearts like Karen's are just too big for this world.   In the end she may have lost her way or distanced herself, but she never lost the love of a mother, grand-mother, sister, auntie, or friend.   Karen is survived by 3 children, Stephanie Schroeder (Dan Stockman), Benjamin (Cara) Schroeder and their 3 children, Layna, Josie and Baby Benjamin, and daughter Hannah Violet Klay.  Karen will be dearly missed by her little sister "Tootie" Ruth Ann Blado and brother Steve Medvecz, countless friends, and extended family in both the Medvecz and Klay families.  She was proceeded in death by husband Allan Klay in 2019, father Steven Medvecz and Mother Aldine Violet (Krejci) Medvecz, and older sister Mary Ann Medvecz-Carr. Karen loved her little dog Petey who was hanging on just for her.  At the age of 14, Petey went to sleep to be with Karen and resting in her arms he escorted her home to be with the Lord.  When the world is well and we can hug without worries and smile without masks, the family will plan a Celebration of Life for Karen later in 2021.  Love you Sis, rest well.