Karen René Benson, 63, of Fort Wayne, died Sunday December 7, 2025. Karen was born in Fort Wayne on April 14, 1962, the daughter of the late Thomas Paul and Mary Ellen (Voisard) Klee. Karen was a fierce protector and unwavering source of strength for her children and grandchildren. Karen attended Brentwood Elementary School, and later became a Lane "Viking" where she discovered her love for volleyball and dance. At Snider High School she played the violin in orchestra, was a member of student council, performed in countless plays and musicals, marched in the color-guard and eventually became a drum major. She graduated from Ball State University where she choreographed "Spring Sing" dances and was the Resident Assistant for a place lovingly known as "The Zoo." She earned her Master's Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University.  She taught Theatre Arts and English at Snider High School, her alma mater, until her retirement in 2018. For over 30 years, Karen directed numerous plays and musicals, igniting empathy and inspiration for thousands of students. Karen loved sharing theater with her students and planned several trips to Chicago and New York City to make the theater come alive. As a founding member of the Fort Wayne Chapter of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance, Karen traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for childhood cancer research funding. She was also a member of Compassionate Friends to help those surviving grief. Karen married her soulmate, William Benson, in 2010. They loved traveling to Mexico and the Caribbean Islands, exploring new places, and hosting family dinners. She took her daughter to London and Paris and her son to Costa Rica. Family trips included Disney World, Universal Studios, Mexico, Dominican Republic and spring break every year at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. Most of all, Karen loved her family. She carried the strength for those around her and loved deeply. She and William adopted their grandson Bentley after the death of her eldest daughter. Karen was an adventurous and loyal friend and the "fun aunt" to many nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly. Survivors include her husband, William Benson; daughter, Chloë (Joshua Isaac) Hines; son, Chase (Danielle Wright) Hines, both of Fort Wayne; stepson, William (Lindsay Reeve) Benson of Bluffton; stepdaughter, Veronica (Joe) Awad of Kalamazoo MI; grandchildren, Brooklyn Hines, Brayden Hines, Bentley Hines, Ander Hines, Magnus Benson, Weston Reeve, Zayn Awad, Zafar Awad, Zakariya Awad, and Zaylynn Awad; brothers, Kevin (Jan) Klee of Auburn, Kent Klee of Fort Wayne; sister, Kierstin Klee (Jim) Bueter of Fort Wayne; brother-in-law, Ken Bird of Greenwood IN and her precious Pomsky, London. In addition to her parents, Karen was also preceded in death by her daughter, Chelsea René Hines; grandson, Boston Thomas Hines and sister, Kimmerly Klee Bird. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am Saturday December 13, 2025 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1105 S. Calhoun St. with visitation from 930-1030am in the church. Visitation also on Friday from 2-4 & 6-8pm at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. Burial in Catholic Cemetery. The family's preferred memorial is the Bentley Hines Education Fund, c/o William Benson, Trustee. To share a remembrance of Karen or to offer condolences, please visit DivineMercyFuneralHome.com.

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