Dr. Karen M. Kakas, 81, of Bowling Green, Ohio passed away on Sunday May 18, 2025 under exquisite care provided by Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg. Her husband Chris of 55 years was right by her side as always. She was born January 2, 1944 in Burlington, Iowa to the late Carl and Helen (Muehlbauer) Pratt.
Karen obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and went on to obtain her Doctorate Degree from The Ohio State University. She worked as a Professor of Art Education and BGSU. She had an incredible passion for all arts. She loved teaching college students, young students from the inner city and Navaho kids on the reservation; these students gave her great joy. She also loved the many dogs that came into her life that gave her joy and peace.
After 25 years of dedicated service for the Art Education Division at Bowling Green State University, her legacy of K12 pedagogy and community collaboration remains the vital core of the Art Ed. Program that the current chair Dr. Barbara Bergstrom continues to build and expand upon.
Karen was hired in 1987. Her deep and abiding passion for art, art making and teaching and her potential to take Art Ed. Into more classrooms and beyond into experimental learning was noticed by former chair of Art Ed. Mary Mabry.
Among other accolades, Karen received the Ohio Art Education Award for HigherEducation in 2006. Karen retired in 2012.
Karen is survived by her husband, Chris, as well as by her nephews and nieces John (Beth) Vasilakos, Anna (Harry) Ruska, Artemis (Denise) Bouzounis and Matina Zenios.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday June 21, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 1021 W. Wooster St. Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. Visitation will begin that morning at 10:30 at the church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dunn Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg of the Wood County Humane Society in Bowling Green.
