Baxter, Karen K.

Karen K. Baxter, 67, Tipton, died Sunday evening, May 16, 2010. Her family was present with her at the Mechanicsville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. She requested cremation. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, Minn., with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church. A light lunch will be served following the service. The Ranney Funeral Home of Wheaton, Minn., is in charge of arrangements.

The daughter of Roy and Doris Berger, she was born March 30, 1943, in Graceville, Minn. Karen was confirmed in her Christian faith at Bethlehem Covenant Church on May 5, 1957. She married Robert Baxter on June 2, 1961.

Karen was a radiant daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She was a devoted wife and stay-at-home mom. When her children were no longer at home and her husband became ill, Karen worked diligently at Wabash Transformers, Clarence, in the 1990s, then from January 2002 to October 2004. She was one of the best at winding electrical transformers for premium audio products. More importantly, she was well-liked by management and staff, and still, anyone who picks up the phone at Wabash knows Karen.

Her love of nature was beyond obvious. She was kin to the birds and trees that graced her environment. The cottonwoods of Redpath Township, her uncommon love for the most common annual flowers, the petunias, marigolds and zinnias were legendary with Karen. She also loved her many pets, the cats and dogs of her years. She especially enjoyed being a Minnesota Gophers and Vikings fan at her chosen home in Iowa, where sports loyalties often lie elsewhere. Karen most recently made her residence at the Tipton Senior Park and dearly loved her friends and neighbors there.

She is survived by her son, Scott Baxter (Lynn) of Prescott, Ariz.; daughter, Major Michelle Kastler (Robert) of Scott AFB, Illinois (St. Louis area); two grandchildren, Katie and Michael Kastler; two sisters, Jeannie Drinkwater (Jim) of Hudson, Wis., and Linda Hache (Bruce) of Minnetonka, Minn.; and brother, Steve Berger (Vicky) of Norcross, Minn.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.

Family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, to Bethlehem Covenant Church, American Cancer Society, or your local humane society/animal shelter.

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