Karen MacCene Quarnstrom, beloved mother, wife, friend, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, passed away peacefully in her daughter’s arms while holding tightly to her husband’s hand on November 19, 2025, at the age of 89 in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Karen MacCene Grimmett was born to Richard Grimmett and MacCene Grimmett on February 25, 1936, in Blackfoot, Idaho. She was the second oldest of five sisters: Colleen, Dixie, Penny, and Mary. Karen was a beacon of light, known for her vibrant spirit and her artistic gifts.
She spent her early years in Provo, Utah, where she attended Brigham Young High School. She later continued her education at Brigham Young University, obtaining a degree in Physical Education with an emphasis in Modern Dance. It was during this time, while working on campus, that she met her eternal companion Blaine.
On January 31, 1962, she married the love of her life, Isaac Blaine Quarnstrom, in the Salt Lake City, Utah LDS Temple for time and all eternity. Together they started their beautiful life, first in Ohio, where Blaine was attending graduate school and earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State University. While in Ohio, their oldest son, Richard Quarnstrom, was born in 1964.
They then moved to Michigan, where Blaine took his first job at Central Michigan University, during which time their second son, Michael Quarnstrom, was born in 1967, and their daughter Shawna in 1968. When Shawna was just nine months old, the family moved again—this time to Hattiesburg, Mississippi—where Blaine accepted a job as the chairman of the Theatre and Dance Department at the University of Southern Mississippi, and Karen became a director of the nationally famous drill team, the Dixie Darlings, where she passionately worked for the next 32 years.
Karen and Blaine shared 63 wonderful years together, marked by deep devotion and the joy of raising their children, a grandchild, and a great-grandchild.
Karen dedicated her professional life as a choreographer and dancer, sharing her passion for movement and creativity with countless others. Her greatest joy and passion, however, was her family. She found immense fulfillment in reading her scriptures and through prayer and service, and she had a special gift for showing unconditional love.
Her enduring legacy is the family she built and the profound kindness she showed to everyone she met. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Isaac Blaine Quarnstrom; their children Richard and his wife Raquel Quarnstrom and Shawna Q. Earnest; grandchildren Brittany Quarnstrom (raised by her loving grandparents), Drake Earnest and wife Kinsey Earnest, Kara Earnest, Anders Quarnstrom, and Logan Quarnstrom; and great-grandchild Darius Michael Quarnstrom (lovingly raised by his great-grandparents). She is also survived by her sisters Dixie Grimmett, Penny Spresser, and Mary Grimmett; her many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and a wide circle of dear friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Richard G. Grimmett and MacCene Grimmett; her sister Colleen Grimmett; and her son, Michael Quarnstrom.
A viewing will be held at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah, on Sunday, November 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Monday, November 24, from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., prior to the memorial service.
The Funeral Mass/Memorial Service will take place at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah, on Monday, November 24, at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will be held at Provo Cemetery following the memorial service.
1 Condolence for Karen MacCene Grimmett Quarnstrom
Condolence(1)
Lindsey Delk says
November 23, 2025 at 4:01 pmI absolutely loved Mrs. Karen and am so glad I got to come see and talk with yall while on my trip to Utah. Blaine, you are in my thoughts and prayers.