Karen Lee Klein (Julander) was born on October 2, 1939, in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended LaSalle-Peru High School, where she was salutatorian. Karen attended the University of Illinois and was the president of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She graduated with a bachelor's degree and began teaching French at Downers Grove North High School. On December 28, 1966, Karen married Ron Klein and shortly after moved to DeKalb. Karen and Ron had two children, Michael and Jennifer, and seven grandchildren.

A member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Karen served as the president of the Women's Fellowship and held other church offices. She was a member of the DeKalb Drama Club and founded the Breast Cancer Survivors Group in DeKalb. Some of Karen's favorite activities were traveling, shopping, walking, sewing, collecting, decorating her home for the holidays, and being with her children and grandchildren.

The Karen Lee Klein CommunityWorks Endowment Fund was created in 2006 after her passing to provide support to the CommunityWorks grant activity. The grants support areas such as child care, workforce development, and land use. The memory of Karen Klein continues through her lasting legacy of love and support for the community.