Obituary for Karen Louise Engdahl

Karen Louise Engdahl was suddenly called to heaven on September 8th, 2022, at the age of 68. She was a generous friend and loving wife and mother who made a bright impression on everyone she met.  Karen was born on March 19th, 1954 and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by her beloved parents Bertrum and Marjorie Shelvik, both of whom had preceded her to eternal life with their Savior. She’s survived by countless friends and family who miss her dearly, especially her husband Rev. Kenneth Engdahl Jr., her daughter Sarah Soristo (“Bug”) and her husband Sean Soristo, along with her siblings Ruth Plesner, David Shelvik, Steven Shelvik, and Norman Shelvik, and her sister-in-law Kristin L’Eon.  Karen married Ken Engdahl on June 6th, 1981, and their only child Sarah was born on September 12th, 1985. Together they moved around the United States as Ken was called to various ministries. They eventually settled in Kenton, Ohio. She loved to experience new places and immediately made lifelong friends wherever she went.  Karen studied at Bethany Lutheran College and the University of Toledo, her primary focus being music. She strove to use her musical and storytelling gifts to enrich lives and praise God.  She recently took a position at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Findlay, Ohio, where she facilitated musical and educational programming for young children. These children brought her abundant joy, and she had completed an event for them on the day she died. We’ll look for her light in our memories to guide us in the times ahead. She was deeply loving and deeply loved in return.  A graveside service will be held at Grove Cemetery in Kenton, Ohio, on Friday, September 16th, at 2:00 PM. A memorial service will follow at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jenera, Ohio, on Saturday, September 17th, at 11:00 AM. SCHINDLEWOLF-STOUT-CRATES FUNERAL HOME will be helping the family with the arrangements for Karen.  Online condolences can be expressed to the family by visiting stoutcrates.com.