Obituary of Karen Jean Kolseth

On September 1, 2018, Karen Jean Kolseth, loving wife of Dale Kolseth and mother of three, passed away suddenly while enjoying a cruise to Alaska. She was born February 20, 1942 to Alfred and Greta Manteuffel. She and her brother, Alfred Manteuffel, Jr., grew up in Oak Park, Illinois attending Grace Lutheran Church and School. She then attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, where she was set up on a blind date with her future husband, Dale. Despite him escorting her to her senior prom, she was initially unimpressed. While attending Lake Forest College years later, she met him on the platform of the L train in Chicago; they never parted ways after that. With Dale's graduation from Purdue University, they married and made a home in Canton, Ohio, where they raised three children: Lise Jordan, Erik Kolseth and Kari Windes. Quitting office work to become a stay-at-home mother until the children were of school age, Karen pursued a wide range of creative and social interests: playing on a bowling league, volunteering with the Canton Womens' Club, and reading, as well as fostering an interest in design and homemaking, whether it was needlepoint, sewing, tending a garden, cooking, or interior design. Once the youngest child hit kindergarten, Karen went back to college ("I was going to be 40 with or without a degree, so why not get one?"), graduating from Kent State University with a B.A. in Social Work. When Dale found work in Southern California, the family moved west, where Karen worked with both at-risk youth, as well as older folks, while also eventually caring for her father at the family home. When his physical needs became too great, she worked in the same facility he was at in order to keep a watchful eye on his physical and mental health. Colorado Springs was their final destination, where both Karen and Dale retired, finding a spiritual home in Bethel Lutheran. There, the couple established Second Family Ministries in honor of the life of their oldest child, Lise, who passed from breast cancer. The two became integrated in church life, with Karen joining Bible studies, along with various church committees, as well as traveling extensively with the church group to many international locations. Karen had a million talents, not the least of which she could solve a mean crossword puzzle and knit enough cozy socks for an army. Dale and Karen welcomed many friends and young people, including Nancy Martin and Kirsten PostVoogt, among others. For Karen, showing that caring about someone included clipping comics from the paper to share a joke, and lifting them up (maybe with some parental advice with it) when they needed it. Karen leaves behind her husband of fifty-five years, Dale; their two children; and grandchildren, Olivia, Curtis, Brian, Haley, Jacob, Kaylie, Josie and Ben.Memorial Service, 11:00AM, Saturday, September 15, 2018, Bethel Lutheran Church, 4925 Farmingdale Drive, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917.She will be sorely and sadly missed.Memorial contributions may be made in Karen's memory to Second Family Ministries, care of Bethel Lutheran Church. Events Memorial Service Saturday, September 15, 2018 11:00AM Bethel Lutheran Church 4925 Farmingdale Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80917 Email: office@bethellutheran.net Phone: 719-570-9800