Karin Schaffer

1955-2023

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Karin who passed away unexpectedly on April 20th, 2023.  It is that same heavy heart, a broken heart, that reunites Karin with her beloved husband, Bert, who also unexpectedly left us a mere twelve days earlier.  Though the pain of this loss is immeasurable, those family and friends that knew Karin well can take solace in 67 years of a life well-lived.  As a proud Swede, Karin embraced the Swedish philosophy of “lagom”, meaning “just enough,” which advocates for living a balanced and contented life. Karin found joy in life’s simple pleasures (not just Swedish meatballs and lingonberries), and her legacy will be remembered by those who knew her.

Throughout her life Karin was many things to many people.  Born on October 25th, 1955 in Oceanside, NY (a surprise to all of her children after reading her birth certificate) to Paul and Eunice Kroon, she was clearly the daughter of a preacher.  She had a “heart of gold” and the faithfulness to match.  Karin spent her formative years growing up in Bradford, PA, where she often commented on the idyllic weather, referring to pleasant summer days as “Bradford Days.”  As the oldest of five children, she was the strait-laced, goodie-two-shoes sister that always got good grades, had a strong moral compass, and generally set an aspirational high bar for her younger brothers and sister to meet.  However, her parents were perhaps taken aback when she introduced her future husband, Bert (“Herbie”), a bit of a troublemaker in his youth, to them at 16.  Together, Karin and Bert, would go on to build a rich and fulfilling life together that centered around unwavering devotion to family and friends. On May 1st, 2023, they would have been married 47 loving years.  Those years were filled with fond memories of raising three children, adoring seven grandchildren, overcoming many challenges together, and in their later years living life for the joy of the experience.

Karin loved fiercely.  If you were fortunate enough to call Karin a daughter, sister, wife, mother, “G-Ma” or friend, there was no limit to her thoughtfulness, her caring, and her loyalty.  If someone was in trouble, going through a challenging time, or if it was a day that ended in “y’, Karin would drop anything and everything at a moment’s notice to be there for someone she cared about.  She was the kind of thoughtful person that most people aspire to be, but seldom achieve.  Her mind was a rolodex of birthdays, and rest assured a card or message was going to be sent.  If a “neglected” younger brother had memories of not getting a chocolate cake on his birthday 45 years ago, Karin would make sure a chocolate cake showed up every year, in the mail, for decades.  If a son (who will not be named) was prone to procrastination and needed flamingoes created for a winter wonderland display at school with twelve hours’ notice, Karin made it happen.  If there was a grandchild’s birthday, “G-Ma” was there with her self-created “cup game” with toys and treats for all the kids (so much so that the cup game board became one of Herbie’s “favorite” things to pack).  If a family member or friend needed an ear to talk, she was on the phone or on the plane without hesitation.  Much like her husband, she was dependably “there,” always.

Karin was selflessly altruistic. Karin was dedicated to the idea of sacrifice for others, finding and happiness in lifting those around her up.  Driven by a deep commitment to ensuring that her kids and grandkids could enjoy lives filled with endless possibilities, she dedicated herself to this life goal. In fact, she was “that parent” that would constantly share stories or proud parent/grandparent moments with those around her whenever she could.  Not only were her children blessed and proud to have her as a mother, but her exceptional love and care for her seven grandkids made her an even more amazing “G-Ma”, a title she held with immense pride and joy.  Her grandkids adored her deeply and took great pleasure in having one-on-one time with “G-Ma”. Although her loss will be keenly felt, the love she poured into their lives will continue to resonate with them forever.  Of course, her impeccable, prize-worthy, gift-wrappingskills will be missed a great deal.  Karin took gift-wrapping to an art form.

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Karin was known for her generosity, kindness, dependability, and willingness to lend a hand.  Professionally, Karin had a “go big, or go home” mentality, always going above and beyond for those around her, whether it was for her work in the transportation industry or as the church secretary.  At work, there was no problem or issue that Karin could not solve.  She was a “fixer”, and if only, because she was dedicated to finding a solution that could help someone else.  She took great pride embracing her role as a “preacher’s daughter”, serving Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church for almost three decades as secretary, Sunday School teacher, and Christmas pageant ornament designer (there is a limited-edition collection of these priceless, hand-crafted ornaments) among other roles.

Karin was nauseatingly Swedish.  She loved blue and yellow, Dala horses, and a good Swedish pancake (although surprisingly not IKEA that much).  Proud of her lineage as a descendant of the renowned Swedish artist Arthur Percy, she took great pleasure in reconnecting with long-lost relatives in Sweden and discovering more about her family history.  This interest led to a bucket-list trip to Sweden where she dined with relatives, walked through Gamla Stan, and toured Percy’s art studio on the island of Oland. This past, this history, meant a lot to Karin.  She often attributed her creativity and artistic talents (she could make one heck of a Halloween costume with Macgyver-esque skill) to her Swedish heritage. A running joke in the family was the uniqueness of the “Swedish Mind”, a trait of Karin’s mother Eunice, that was passed down to Karin (as much as she claimed she wasn’t turning into her mother).  The “Swedish Mind” was a combination of being stubborn in reasoning while being creative in problem solving.  Karin embodied both of these ideals in the best way possible, attributes that were adored by her family.

Though the pain of this loss is immeasurable, Karin’s legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew her.  Her devotion to living a balanced and contented life rooted in experiences in the spirit of “lagom”, as well as her love for life’s simple pleasures, will continue to inspire those who were lucky enough to be touched by her kindness and grace. May she rest in peace, reunited with her beloved Bert, forever in our hearts.

Karin was preceded in death by her husband Bert, her sister Martha, and her parents Paul and Eunice Kroon.  Karin is survived by her children, Scott (Melissa), Marc (Megan), and Lauren (Josh, the favorite son-in-law), and her grandchildren, Samuel and Stella, Maya, Remy, and Nellie, and Juliette and Grayson.  She is also survived by her brothers, Stephen (Sharon), Karl, and John (Christine) and her beloved nephews and nieces.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Karin Schaffer for a visitation at Kish Funeral Home (10000 Calumet Ave, Munster, Indiana) on Monday, May 1st from 4:00-6:00PM. Funeral Services will take place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (19058 Burnham Ave, Lansing, IL) on Tuesday, May 2^nd at 10:00AM.  Family is invited for a visitation prior to the funeral service at 9:30AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made in honor and memory of Karin to the following:  Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church 19058 Burnham Ave. Lansing, IL 60438.

(In memory of Karin Schaffer on check memo line)

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