Karen Oldenhage Santos

Karen Oldenhage Santos, 82, of Livingston, California, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2025. Born on August 7, 1942, in Merced, California, Karen lived a life full of love, unique laughter, and deep devotion to her family and friends.

Karen was the beloved wife of Thomas Santos. The two were married in a beautiful ceremony in Lake Tahoe on June 28, 1980, and shared 44 years of marriage filled with warmth, companionship, and enduring love. 

She was the cherished mother of Stephanie Berlier and stepmother to Richard Santos. She found tremendous joy in her grandchildren: Justin (Megan) Bruecker, Trevor (Vanessa) Staats, Pepper and Skyler Santos, and her heart overflowed with love for her great-grandchildren: Brynn, Blaire, and Brayden Bruecker, and Logan and Benjamin Staats. Her family was the center of her world, especially her great-grandchildren, who were the light of her life.  She loved spoiling them, having them over to swim in her pool and babysitting when needed.  She had a tradition of arriving at every birthday party with a helium balloon in one hand and an armful of gifts in the other.

Karen graduated from Merced High School and built a fulfilling career, first working for many years at Farmers Insurance in Merced. Her time there left her with many fond memories and lifelong friendships—especially with her best friend, Ruby Jean Allen. She also played a vital role in supporting her husband’s farming business by managing the books.  Later, she retired from the Delhi Unified School District, where she worked in the cafeteria. She loved interacting with the children, serving them meals and brought a smile to so many young faces. 

Known for her spunky personality and zest for life, Karen enjoyed cooking, staying active, gardening, and, true to her fun-loving spirit, sipping on a cold Miller Lite.  Karen was the life of the party who loved beach getaways, poolside barbecues, The Rolling Stones and was a devoted Pittsburg Steelers fan.    She was an animal lover who would make sure all the neighborhood cats were well fed and taken care of.  She never missed a grandchild’s sporting event and made sure to make each one of them feel special.  She was a natural caregiver and nurturer—traits that extended to all areas of her life.

She is survived by her siblings, Diane Moreno and Phillip (Michelle) Oldenhage, along with her many loving family members and friends who will miss her dearly.

A celebration of Karen's life will be held at a later date. Her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

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