Karen Diane Alling passed peacefully at Spring Hill Manor in Grass Valley on July 10, 2024.
Karen was born to Dorothy Wasley Penaluna and James Penaluna at Miner’s Hospital in Nevada City, California on May 29, 1950. She enjoyed a lively childhood on Mainhart Drive in Grass Valley where she and her best friend Jewel Vieu staged playful shenanigans. She went to Grass Valley schools where she served as an officer of the Girls Athletic Association – GAA, and graduated from Nevada Union in 1968 then attended Sierra College.
Karen’s first marriage blessed her with her son Thomas in 1975 and on June 25, 1977 she married the love of her life, Robert Alling. They made a life together living in and working as caretakers in Pioneer Park for the City of Nevada City. The family later moved to their beautiful home in Deer Creek Park where they lived until the couple moved together to Sierra View Senior Living in 2021. Karen had several jobs throughout the years including working for Peter’s Well Drilling, Neighborhood Center for the Arts and United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, but she focused much of her time on being a mom and being competitive in her passions. She loved BINGO, tennis, pitching horseshoes and was a talented and accomplished bowler. Bob and Karen enjoyed yard-saling and decorating their home and yard with their “lucky finds.”
Karen is survived by her husband Bob, Son Tom Alling and his wife Katie and granddaughter Lindsey Alling, her brother Bill Penaluna and his wife Debbie. She is preceded by her parents.
The family is planning a private memorial.