Karen Louise Brelje

BRELJE, Karen Louise
Kalamazoo Karen died in the Lord on January 6, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Karen was born April 2, 1939, in Red Bud, Illinois, to Edwin and Leona Eggerding. She grew up and attended school in Red Bud through high school. Karen enrolled in the School of Nursing of Lutheran Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri, graduating as a Registered Nurse in September, 1960. She worked during her lifetime as a Registered Nurse at Lutheran Hospital, St. Louis; Skiff Memorial Hospital, Newton, Iowa; and Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Karen was married to Larry Brelje on June 10, 1961, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Red Bud, Illinois, and celebrated 50 years of marriage this past June. She was the mother of three sons, Stephen, Timothy and Michael who died at three month of age of SIDS. Karen was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Kalamazoo, Michigan. At Zion she worked in the Lutheran World Relief sewing ministry, in the serving of meals after funerals and in the Braille ministry. Karen was preceded in death by her parents and her infant son, Michael. She is survived by her husband, Larry; her son Stephen and his wife, Pam of Kalamazoo; her son, Timothy and his wife, Becky of Harlan, Iowa; five Brelje grandchildren - Benjamin, Jordan, Jonathan, Joshua and Jenna; her sister, Shirley Wallace of Trenton, Michigan, and her brother, Louis Eggerding and his wife, Carol, of Columbia, Missouri. Visitation will be held Monday, January 9th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Langeland Family Funeral homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 South 9th Street. Services will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 10th at 11:00 AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 2122 Bronson Boulevard, Kalamazoo. Pastors Timothy Seeber and Mark Couch will officiate. Burial will be in the cemetery of Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bud, Illinois. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Lutheran World Relief sewing ministry of Zion Lutheran Church or to Loaves and Fishes of Kalamazoo.