Karin Ingrid Greenberg, formerly of Albert Lea, died at home on May 12, 2008, in Trade Lake, Wis., where she lived with her daughter, Nyla.
Karin was born in Sweden on March 9, 1926, the only child of Walt and Elsa Kallberg. The family immigrated to the United States in 1927, eventually settling in Albert Lea. After graduating from Albert Lea High School in 1944, she worked for several years before pursuing her extensive artistic interests and abilities at the Art Institute in Chicago. She married fellow art student Joseph Greenberg of Elgin, Ill., on Sept. 23, 1951, and settled in Elgin. In 1953 Karin was chosen from among some 3000 contestants to represent Illinois in the Mrs. America pageant in Florida. While raising two children and an ever-evolving roster of pets she remained active as an artist doing watercolor and pastel portraits from home. Her wonderful creativity was also evident in unique birthday cakes, Halloween costumes and hand-crafted gifts. She taught local knitting classes, and usually had several knitting, sewing and crocheting projects underway. In 1987 Karin moved back to her childhood home in Albert Lea where she maintained an avid interest in gardening and became active in the local Art Center. 
She is profoundly missed, and lovingly remembered for her many talents, tremendously sweet and generous spirit, abiding optimism, appreciation and gentle humor. 
She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her son Gary and daughter Nyla. A visitation was held on May 16 at the Edling Funeral Home in Grantsburg, Wis. A memorial in celebration of Karin’s life is planned for Friday at 3 p.m. in the Jacobsen Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. Following the service friends are invited for “coffee time” to share memories and enjoy some of Karin’s art.