of Little Rock, AR
November 20, 1970 - December 15, 2017
Karen Marlene Madej, devoted wife of Ronald Steven Russ, and daughter of Paul Madej and Joyce Linderman, died peacefully after a long illness on December 15, 2017. She was an accomplished academic librarian, penning many scholarly articles, presenting numerous programs, and serving the UA-Little Rock campus community for over 21 years. In addition, she chaired the Depository Library Council, an advisory board to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. Karen also served on the boards of the Arkansas Genealogy Society and the Arkansas Outdoor Photographers Club, among others.
She was born on November 20, 1970 in Buffalo, NY and grew up in the nearby suburb of Amherst, NY. She attended the State University of New York, College at Fredonia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History (with honors) in 1992. Karen met her future husband, Ronald Russ, in the School of Information and Library Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received her Master in Library Science degree there in 1994. Karen's first professional position was government documents librarian in the Queens Borough Public Library in 1994. In 1996, she was offered the government documents librarian position at UA-Little Rock, where she worked until her passing. Some of the items that she authored or co-authored included 1957 Crisis at Central High: An Annotated Bibliography of Government Publications, Piece by Piece: A Handbook - Library Instruction for Students with Disabilities, and Reaching Out to Youth with Electronic Government Information. She was a frequent presenter on genealogy, topics included using government documents for genealogy, and medical genealogy, among others. Honors include the Arkansas Library Association's Suzanne Spurrier Academic Librarian award, the US Government Publishing Office' Depository Library of the Year award, and the Teresa Haven Distinguished Professional award from the Arkansas Affiliate of the Association on Higher Education And Disability. She had many hobbies and interests including photography, birding, genealogy, and cross-stitching.
She is survived by her husband Ronald Russ, her parents Paul Madej and Joyce Linderman, and her brother-in-law, Peter Russ.
A celebration of life will be 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, 2018 in the chapel of Roller Chenal Funeral home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, AR (501) 224-8300. A visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until service time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Arkansas Hospice.
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18 Condolence(s)
michelle
Monday, March 26, 2018
I just found about about Karen's passing today. I know Ron and Karen through the library world, and was saddened to learn of Karen's passing. She did a lot for the library world in Arkansas and will be greatly missed!
Timothy Kessler
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Was deeply saddened to hear of Karen's passing. I always enjoyed working with her in the library and catching up when I would see her after I moved on to other parts of campus.
May her memory be for blessing.
z"l
-Tim Kessler
Brent Osgood
Sunday, December 24, 2017
My deepest condolences. I remember Karen from Sweet Home High School as a kind and intelligent girl, which is always a good thing in the world.
Linda Yelder
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Ron, I extend my sincere condolences to you and your family at this most difficult time.
Linda
Anne Liebst
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Ron and family,
Thinking of you.
Carolyn Ashcraft, State Librarian
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sad to learn of Karen's passing, but know she fought hard throughout her treatment. Karen was a valuable member of the library profession. She will be missed.
Kae Chatman
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Ron, I'm saddened to hear that your wife has passed. I'm sure I speak for everyone who works with you at ASU-Beebe. We're here for you in this season of loss.
Phyllis Steward
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Ron,
So very sorry for your loss. You and in my thoughts and prayers.
Trish Miller
Monday, December 18, 2017
Ron and Family,
I send my heart felt sympathy to each of you. Karen and I served together on committees and the board with the Arkansas Library Association. We worked about six years on the Bicentennial Committee. It was always a pleasure working with her. She always saw her commitments through no matter how long the process.
Karen gave so much of her own time and resources to the Association. She will be greatly missed by so many of us in the library world and she leaves behind a wonderful legacy through all she has shared over the years.
I will miss her!
rolf Groesbeck
Monday, December 18, 2017
So sorry to hear this news.
Richard Culbertson
Monday, December 18, 2017
I will remember her most of all for the holiday vests she would wear at our library staff parties! She is free of pain now and in our prayers!
John Siegel
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Ron,
My thoughts are with you and your loved ones. I know this is a difficult time. Karen will be remembered for all of her accomplishments.
Doris Pierce
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Dear Ron and Karen's Family:
I am so sorry for your loss. Karen was a great colleague and a kind person. When you talked to Karen, you felt like you had known her all of her life. I don't feel like she ever met a stranger. Karen was very passionate about being an academic librarian and using universal design for learning in how print materials are made accessible to people with disabilities. Karen always posted information on our Ark-AHEAD listserv to help those in the profession (seasoned and new) to better connect with and assist students with disabilities. I am very grateful that Karen and I passed paths in this life. When I saw her in the Spring at the Ark-AHEAD Conference, she was her lively self, talking to everyone like nothing had ever happened. She presented at the conference as well - being very knowledgeable about her condition and passing that knowledge on to others. That is how I wish to remember her.
Thank you for giving me this space to express my appreciation for a great colleague and friend.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers
Doris
Carol Thompson
Saturday, December 16, 2017
I knew Karen from many committees at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. I can't imagine what it is like to lose her. Thinking of your family.
Dan Shelton
Saturday, December 16, 2017
I'm so glad I got to know Karen through work. She was kind, friendly, and helpful. She will be missed.
Jane H. Brown
Saturday, December 16, 2017
To all the family members, I am very sorry for your loss. I remember Karen as a consummate librarian who was always very helpful to students and faculty alike.
Ronald Russ
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Karen was my wife and I loved her dearly. We had so many great times together. It will be difficult to get over her loss. We were married almost 23 years and I knew her for 25. She was not only my wife, but my best friend. She will be truly missed.
Suzanne Martin
Saturday, December 16, 2017
So sorry for your loss. I know she will be missed.