Karlena Marie Cahalan

Karlena Marie Cahalan was born on April 26, 1975, daughter of Larry and Linda Swier. She lived on a farm near Colton until 1986 and then moved with her family to Sioux Falls where she graduated as an honor student in 1993 from Roosevelt High School. Karlena spent her freshman year at Augustana College in Sioux Falls and during that year discovered she carried the Ataxia gene. She transferred to the University of South Dakota in 1994 where she received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders in December 1996 and her Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology in May, 1998. Karlena volunteered and worked many places throughout her life helping people with special needs. She worked as a Speech Therapist in the Wichita Falls Hospital, Wichita Falls, TX, Covington Heights Nursing Home in Sioux Falls, Baby Steps in Lancaster, CA and the Speech Language Stimulation Center in Fort Collins, CO. She retired (or transitioned as she called it) in June of 2005 because of her illness.

Karlena married her high school sweetheart Kerry Cahalan on March 28, 1998 in Sioux Falls. They moved to Wichita Fall, TX in 1998 and on June 14, 1999 their son, Kaleb was born. Karlena moved back to Sioux Falls in 2000 while Kerry was stationed in the Air Force in Korea. Karlena’s family moved Lancaster, CA in 2001 and to Loveland, CO in 2003. Karlena enjoyed involvement in several Bible Studies, was devoted to God, her church (Spirit of Joy) and her family and friends. She loved sharing and spending time with people, especially her husband and son. Karlena will forever be known for her instant smile, terrific attitude towards life, and her personal relationship with the Lord.

Family members who will miss Karlena are her husband Kerry and son Kaleb, Loveland, CO; her mother and stepfather, Linda and Dan Wagner, Sioux Falls; stepsister, Tracie (John) Huiras, Mankato, MN; stepbrothers, Ryan (Mari) Wagner, Pipestone, MN and Bob Wagner, Sioux Falls; in-laws and special care givers, Roger and Melynda Cahalan, Loveland, CO; brothers in law, Ryan Cahalan, Loveland, CO and Chris (Annette) Cahalan, Tucson, AZ; grandparents, Bob and Joyce Otkin, Gary, SD and Cleila Wagner, Sioux Falls and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Larry Swier and grandparents, Bill and Ruth Swier.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 2:00 PM.

Blessed Be Her Memory.