Karen Lee Yergler

Karen’s greatest legacy will be her compassion. She dedicated her career to showing kindness to those in need. In medical offices across the state, the sick, scared, and hurting were greeted by a kind smile and sympathetic ear. Outside of work, Karen always sought out those struggling and found big and small ways to encourage, cheer, and support. She turned the hardships in her own life into ways to ease the burdens of others. Her generous heart brought warmth and light to thousands of lives, and she will be deeply missed.

Karen was happiest surrounded by her family. She was devoted to her husband for over 40 years. Together, they modeled a commitment through better and worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to the point that they were able to receive Karen's final illness as a gift of undivided time together. Karen loved the lively chatter of her four daughters together. She leaves them with happy memories of road trips, camping, concerts, and long weekends spent together near woods and water. She spent her life caring for them, fierce in her determination to give them every opportunity to see the world and explore their potential.

And so, as we who loved her most grieve the loss of a great woman, we grieve with the hope that we will see her again. We grieve with the comfort that she is finally at peace, healed from hurts old and recent, visible and hidden, and that she is thrilled by the fullness and wideness of the love God has for her. And we grieve with the healing burden of honoring her by living what she taught us, from butter on our breakfast pastries and bananas in our cereal, to tackling our work with discipline and integrity, to the little ways we find to always be just shy of well-behaved and easily governed.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Othmar Geiger. She is survived and missed by her husband, David Yergler; daughters Genae (Eric) Andris, Micah (Keith) Pitner, Emalee (Joshua) Mills, and Makenna Yergler; adored grandchildren Joelle Andris, Weston Andris, Ember Andris, Evelyn Pitner, Milo Pitner, Zane Mills, Ian Mills, Silas Mills, and Calvin Mills; Mother Delores (Federer) Geiger; brothers Jerome (Becky) Geiger, Daniel Geiger, and Steven “Jake” (Dena) Geiger; and sisters Susan (Eric) Gray and Barbara (Daniel) Schumacher; along with many nieces and nephews and countless friends.

Everyone touched by Karen’s life is invited to a Celebration of Life open house on Sunday, April 13th 2025 at Bethany Community Church from 1 pm to 7 pm. Karen loved to bless friends with May baskets. To honor her, loved ones are invited to bring a small May basket if they so choose, and her grandkids will make deliveries on May Day on her behalf. Karen would also be honored by donations in her memory to International Justice Mission or Water Mission.

Arrangements are under the care of Remmert Funeral Home. Online tributes and condolences may be made at www.RemmertFuneralHome.com