Mrs. Karen Gierach or Port Washington passed away at her home early Friday morning, October 30, 2026. She was 82 years old.

Karen and her twin sister Sharon were born in Salem, SD to Edward and Dorothy (nee Feterl) Stiefvater on February 13, 1944, joining siblings Bernadette, Charles, DeWayne and Jerry. An unfortunate accident killed their mother, and Karen and Sharon were sent to live with Nicholas and Josephine Winkel, relatives of Edward, in Knellsville.

Karen was a graduate of Port Washington High School, Class of 1961. On September 21, 1963, she was united in marriage with Roger Gierach at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Her sister Sharon was wed the same day at the same church, and the Ozaukee Press called the event “The Parade of Twins”.

Karen and Roger remained in Port Washington and raised their four children. Mrs. Gierach worked as a matron cook for the Ozaukee County Sherriff Department under Sherriff Art Helm and Sherrif Fernando Perez, later working as a cook at St. Alphonsus Hospital and St. Mary Hospital, until the facility closed it’s Port Washington location. While in high school, Karen had worked at Janzer’s Restaurant, across the street from the library in Port Washington.

Roger and Karen had a long-time habit of sharing coffee in the morning, a ritual they both looked forward to their entire marriage. Roger preceded Karen in death in 2025.

Mrs. Gierach was well known for her cooking and sewing. Growing up, she was inseparable from her twin sister Sharon and the two stayed in daily contact after Sharon moved to Las Vegas. Karen looked forward to her trips to visit her sister, which always included playing Yahtzee and drinking lots of Tab! Soda.

Survivors include her children Susie (Don) Marten, Kathy Gierach, Carol (Jeff) Leppla, and Gary Gierach. She is further survived by grandchildren Jennifer, Becky, Shane, Mitchell, and Mikala, great-grandchildren Malia, Marilyn, Mackenzie, and Elliot, nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Karen is preceded in death by her husband Roger, her parents Edward and Dorothy, and siblings Bernadette, Charles, DeWayne, and Jerry Stiefvater.

The family will receive guests at the Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington (1600 W Grand Ave., Port Washington) on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 2:30 – 3:30PM. Karen will be laid to rest with her husband the following day at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove.

If desired, memorials are suggested in Karen’s name to the Alzheimer's Association .

The Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements; online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com .