Karen F. Schulte

KAREN F. SCHULTE

Cedar Rapids

Karen Frances Buresh Schulte passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 23, 2021, surrounded by her husband Steven, their son Nathanael, and family.

She will be remembered as a loving, dedicated, and giving wife, mother, daughter, sister, "Auntie K," granddaughter, great aunt, friend, parishioner, and devoted Catholic. Karen was omnipresent in our lives; she was loved and will be greatly missed.

Karen was born on Dec. 12, 1956, during a major snowstorm in Waterloo, Iowa, to Loretta (Stadler) Buresh and the late Charles "Chuck" Buresh. Karen grew up with her sister Kathleen in Waterloo, Iowa, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and New Cumberland, Pa., before settling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1971. Karen was a member of the Regis High School Class of 1975 and graduated from the Kirkwood School of Dental Assisting in 1976.

On Sept. 15, 1979, Karen married the love of her life, Steven Schulte, and raised their son Nathanael during their 42-year marriage. Karen and her family were parishioners of St. Ludmila Catholic Church where she participated in the Music Ministry. In her leadership role with the Deanery Commission, Karen was instrumental in the construction of the new St. Ludmila Church. Most recently Karen was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Karen was a Holy Family Board of Education member and was intricately involved in building the new Xavier campus. In 2019 Karen was inducted into the LaSalle/Regis/Xavier Alumni Hall of Fame as a testament to her leadership and support of Catholic education.

It was well known that Karen loved to travel - warm weather, beaches, and European Catholic Pilgrimages were her frequent and favorite destinations. Karen and Steve were seasonal residents of Door County, Wis., and Karen served as the unofficial Cedar Rapids Ambassador for that destination. Karen was THE Soccer Mom of ALL Soccer Moms, a fanatic supporter of Xavier High School, loved her West Highland Terriers Karaline and Keara, as well as entertaining, cooking, baking and decorating.

Karen was beloved by the extended families of her uncle, Ray Buresh, aunt, Marie (Buresh) Lint, stepfather, Robert Claes, and daughter-in-law, Joanna Schulte. She was loved and embraced by them as a daughter, sister, niece, cousin and auntie.

She was employed by Drs. Arlon Berkoff and Paul Mazzocco for 13 years, and Dr. Paul Mazzocco for 29 years, where her co-workers and patients became close friends during her career.

Karen is survived by her husband, Steven Schulte; son, Nathanael Schulte; daughter-in-law, Joanna (Sammis) Schulte; mother, Loretta (Stadler-Buresh) Claes; stepfather, Robert Claes; sister, Kathleen (Buresh) Berta and her husband Vince Berta; nieces and nephews, Anthony Berta (Kerry) and Katherine Berta Sand (Travis); and great-niece, June Katherine Berta.

Karen would like to extend a special thank-you to the Mercy Hospice Staff, Dr. Megan McDonald (University of Iowa), Dr. Ann Stroh (Mercy Hall-Perrine Cancer Center), Dr. Mark Goedken, the doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and all the devoted medical staff whose kindness and smiles encouraged her on a daily basis.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Charles J. Buresh; grandparents, Genevieve (Lynch) Buresh, Charles P. Buresh, Helen K. (Svoboda) Stadler and Frank J. Stadler; mother-in-law, Teresa (Viktor) Schulte; and father-in-law, Vernon Schulte; as well as close members of the Ray Buresh, Marie (Buresh) Lint, Robert Claes and Dr. Charles Sammis families.

Karen requests that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy donations be made to the Xavier High School Foundation, Mercy Hall-Perrine Hope Fund or St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Visitation will be held at Teahen Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021. All are welcome to attend the Rosary, which will be held at 4 p.m. with the vigil immediately thereafter at 4:30 p.m., and open visitation from 5 to 8 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. Online streaming will be open five minutes before the funeral. To view, Google St. Patrick Catholic Church Cedar Rapids, Iowa, click on the Facebook link (no Facebook account required) and you will be taken to the online streaming.

Online condolences maybe left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com