Nov. 18, 1956 – Feb. 11, 2010

Karen Joy Harter Prouty, 53, of West Bend, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in her home Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010. She was born Karen Joy Harter on Nov. 18, 1956, in Beloit, the daughter of James and Dorothy Reum Harter.

Karen was a 1974 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School. She married Joshua Prouty on July 20, 1998, in Rockford, Ill. Karen graduated from Waukesha County Technical College in Waukesha and was employed by Aurora Health Care in Hartford as a lab technician. Karen enjoyed traveling, the Milwaukee Brewers and especially her two grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, Joshua; son, Brent Beiter of West Bend; daughter, Jamey (Jeremy) Hickey of West Bend; her grandchildren, Seienna and Benjamin Hickey, both of West Bend; her mother, Dorothy Harter of Beloit; sisters, JoAnn (Michael) Allen of Lincoln, Neb., Lynn (Richard) Myers of Roscoe, Ill., and Kathy (Jeff) Case of Roscoe; brother, Jack Harter of Rockford; sister-in-law, Rosemary Harter of Roscoe; six nephews and a niece; numerous great-nephews and great-nieces; and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her father, James Harter; brother, Steven Harter; niece, Michelle Harter; and a sisterin-law, Evelyn Harter.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the 1 p.m. celebration of Karen’s life Wednesday, Feb. 17, in the Brian Mark Funeral Home, 1000 Inman Parkway, Beloit, with Brother Arthur Washington officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family would be appreciated.

Brian Mark Funeral Home is serving the family. For more information, call 608-362-2000 or visit online at www.schoenfeldmark.com.