Karen Nord Schaar, 62, of Davenport, died Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at MercyOne Genesis, East Rusholme Street, Davenport.
Per her wishes, cremation rites were accorded. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Davenport Elks Lodge. The Runge Mortuary assisted her family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.therungemortuary.com. Memorials may be made to the Pink Boots Society www.pinkbootssociety.org/donate.
Karen was born on Jan. 4, 1964, in Minnesota. She was adopted days later by Orville and Ailene (Gerischer) Nord. The family moved to Kansas, where she spent her early years, before settling in Iowa and graduating from North Scott High School in 1982. She later earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in 1994. She was united in marriage to Scot Schaar on March 31, 2007, in Davenport. She worked for many years at United Parcel Service, and over the years had many part time jobs in fields that caught her interest. Her greatest joy was following the activities of her grandchildren. She loved many outside activities and could regularly be seen participating or volunteering at local running, cycling, and adventure races.
Karen was about all things fermentation. She was an award-winning brewer, mead, wine, and cider maker and was a certified Beer, Mead and Cider Judge. In 2019 in Poznan, Poland, she became certified in the European Mead Judging Programme. She formed The Powder Keggers organization to promote women in the brewing industry. She taught many classes on beer and mead making. In her “spare time,” she set up and maintained a Little Free Library in her neighborhood and was active with the Lutheran Church Eastside Mission.
Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Scot Schaar; daughter, Alissa (Kurt) Krambeck; stepdaughter, Sydney (Torre) Gerritsen; grandchildren, Koen and Annika Krambeck; step-grandson, Vaughn Gerritsen; and brother, Todd Bergman.
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