Funeral service will be 11 am on Saturday, March 11, 2017, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Timothy Smith will officiate, and a private family committal service will happen at a later date.

Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Friday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-NORTH CHAPEL in New Ulm, and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church in New Ulm.

To leave an online condolence for her family, or to sign the guestbook, go to www.mvfh.org

Karen is survived by her husband, Arlen Koestler of New Ulm; daughters, Deborah (Ron Bentz) Kuck of New Ulm, Rachel (Merel) Grack of Casa Grande, Arizona; sons, Timothy (Tammy) Koestler of Apple Valley, Michael (Patty) Koestler of Racine, Wisconsin; sister, Pamela (Vern) Clobes of Cocoa Beach, Florida; and brother, Jeffrey (Lee Anne) Messerschmidt of Douglasville, Georgia.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Karen Mae Messerschmidt was born November 4, 1941, in Mankato to Irvin and Kathryn (Zieske) Messerschmidt. She was a 1959 graduate from DMLHS in New Ulm, and furthered her education at a business school in Omaha, Nebraska where she studied to be a Medical Secretary. On November 5, 1960, Karen was united in marriage to Arlen Koestler at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple was blessed with four children whom together they raised in Bay City, Michigan, and Greenfield, Wisconsin, before eventually moving to New Ulm where she lived the rest of her life. Early in her career, Karen worked as a medical secretary, but most of her career was spent working at Lambrecht’s Gifts in New Ulm; a career she held for over 25 years. Besides her work, and raising her family, Karen had a variety of hobbies that brought her great joy in life. To relax, Karen found happiness in her wonderful vegetable and flower gardens. She also was quite devoted to her health practicing yoga for many years. Karen always had an eye for style, and greatly enjoyed decorating her home. What brought her the most joy in life was spending time with her family. She dearly enjoyed family get togethers, but anytime she got to spend with them was cherished. Karen was a dedicated member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm where she volunteered many hours with the funeral lunch committee, the altar guild, and the church choir. Although Karen may be gone, memories of her life will stay in the hearts of all of those who knew and loved her.

Memorials are preferred to DMLC, MLA, or St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Ulm.

www.mvfh.org

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