Obituaries

Kaare (Kåre) Jorgen Pedersen, 82, passed away Saturday, January 24, 2026, at Hospice Care of St. Elizabeth in Edgewood, Kentucky.

Kaare was born June 28, 1943, in Risor, Norway, the son of Per and Solveig (Haugen) Pedersen.

After coming to the US at the age of 19, he enlisted in the US Army and served from 1965-1969.

Kaare worked his way through college and received a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

While working at Martin Oil in Alsip, Illinois, he met the love of his life, Dawn Bara, and they were married on February 6, 1981. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Kristina and Tanya.

In 1989 Kaare accepted a position with Keller Oil Company in Effingham, Illinois, and the family moved from the Chicago suburbs and made their home on Glenwood Street for over 25 years. He later built and operated several businesses, notably Rainbow Island, Evergreen Mini Golf/The Purple Hippo, and Terror on the Square.

In 2015 Kaare and Dawn moved to Florence, Kentucky, a day before their first grandchild was born. However, Kaare always considered Effingham his home.

He is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, Dawn Pedersen; loving daughters Kristina (Ryan) Laker of Hebron, Kentucky, and Tanya Pedersen of Effingham, Illinois; dearest granddaughters Ellie and Olivia Laker; devoted brother Arild (the late Unni) Pedersen and sister Aud (Jan Olav Sivertsen) Pedersen.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Effingham, Illinois at a later date.