My first cousin Jim Hedger's beautiful wife Karen passed away very suddenly on Monday, September 26, 2016, at the age of 62. Karen was born January 23, 1954, in Chicago, the daughter of John Leonard Stuckert and Jeanette Louise Boehler (1914-1991).
Karen graduated from Forest View High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in 1972. Another of my first cousins, Donna, was friends with Karen's younger sister Barb. Donna introduced Karen and Jim, who married on September 11, 1976. They have two sons, three daughters, two sons-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and (so far) three granddaughters and two grandsons.
Karen and Jim lived in Goshen, Indiana, in the late 1970s to mid-1980s, and moved to Florida in the late 1980s, first to Clearwater and later to DeLand.
Karen loved to travel - she and Jim frequently went to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and they recently took a trip out West for their 40th anniversary, visiting multiple national parks (Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Teton). They did tons of hiking and Karen took lots of wonderful pictures of landscapes and wildlife, which she shared with friends and family on Facebook.
I've been amazed at all the lives she touched, especially those of many young people for whom she was a motherly presence and influence. May you rest in peace, dear Karen.
The photo above of Jim and Karen was taken August 7, 1976, just a month before their wedding.
© Amanda Pape - 2016 - click here to e-mail me.
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