Kari Rebecca Madsenn Fellows' Obituary
Kari Rebecca Madsen Fellows
August 9, 1973 to July 4, 2025
On August 9th 1973 Kenna and David Madsen welcomed a third beautiful daughter to their family. They named her Kari Rebecca and from that day forward she brought joy and blessing to their family. Kari was a happy loving child and found joy in the simplest things. She was even proud and boastful that she “peed in the woods”.
Kari was born in Murray, Utah and spent most of her growing up years in Kearns, Utah. She attended school in Kearns and graduated from Kearns High School in June of 1991. One of Kari’s choice memories and experiences was serving as a counselor at Oakcrest girls camp where she was known by her childhood nickname of Boo Boo. Kari made dear friends at Oakcrest who have remained lifelong friends. While serving a Oakcrest Kari received a call to serve as a missionary in the Detroit Michigan mission. She served there for almost 18 months, again making many life-long friends. Kari had to leave her mission a few weeks early due to injuries she received when she was hit by a car while riding her bicycle.
After her mission Kari worked various jobs and began attending a singles ward. While attending that ward she discovered that there were certain individuals that she would let into her “bubble”. For there she met Joseph William Fellows. Before long the two began dating and on April 6th, 1999 Kari and Joe were married for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. From that day forward the couple began a life of faith, love, and service; especially to those with special needs. Throughout her life Kari’s fondest wish was to be a mother and when it looked like that opportunity might not happen for her, she began to care for people with special needs or those who just needed a loving home. Through reaching out and helping people in need the Fellows came to know a lovely little girl named Jade who they soon came to love and were blessed with the opportunity to bring her into their home by the blessing of adoption. As life sometimes happens about the time the couple was granted legal custody of Jade they discovered Kari was pregnant. So before long Noah David Joseph Fellows was welcomed into the family. They received a tender mercy when on a Saturday when Jade was sealed to the couple and the next day on Sunday Noah was blessed and give a name.
Kari and Joe welcomed numerous of God’s children with special needs into their home, some on a long-term basis and many, many for respite care. Of those who came on a long-term basis were Brandy, Lisa and Angela. Lisa joined the Fellows home in August 2005 and Angela joined the family in January 2021 both were living with the family at the time of Kari’s passing. Kari and Joe blessed the lives of these special ladies and they blessed the Fellows family in uncountable ways.
Kari is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and besides serving as a missionary has served in many callings in Relief Society and Primary. Most memorable and joyous to her and those she served was her many years as Primary chorister. She loved the calling and she loved the children and they loved her.
In early 2025 Kari began having trouble with decision making and normal daily tasks. These symptoms gradually grew worse and began affecting her speech and balance. After trips to the ER and many scans and test on June 15th, 2025 Kari was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease more commonly know as Mad Cow disease. This unforgiving and virulent disease continued to rob her of her ability to care for others or to walk and talk. She passed away on the early morning of July 4th. 2025 in the presence of her caring family.
Kari is survived by her Husband Joseph William Fellows, by her two children Jade Mariah Janay, and Noah David Joseph and by her special children Brandy, Lisa and Angela. She is also survived by her father David “B” Madsen and her sister Wendy Susanne Madsen, as well brothers and sisters from the Fellows family and as nephews and a nieces of both families. She was preceded in death by her mother Kenna Caplinger Madsen and her siblings Cindy Christine Williams, Johnathan McKay Madsen and Mark David Madsen.
Funeral services for Kari Rebecca Fellows will be held on July 10, 2025 at 11:00 am (viewing from 9:45am to 10:45 am), with a viewing on the evening of July 9th from 6 to 8. The funeral and the viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel located at 5905 South 4000 West, Taylorsville, Utah.
The Fellows and Madsen family would like to thank the numerous family and friends who have given prayers and countless offers of help during this trying time. For you who loved and were blessed by Kari’s life we invite you to look for someone in any kind of need and be a blessing to them in Kari’s memory.
Zoom Link:
https://zoom.us/j/93759529270
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