Karen Jean King

Karen Jean King, 68, of Grand Rapids and previously of Lake Odessa, died Saturday, November 22, 2025, after declining health, especially in her last 6 months. Karen’s life had many strong themes, ones to learn from and emulate, such as contentment within simplicity, happiness within serving, diligence in work and pursuits, being kind whether others were or not, loving pets deeply, collecting friendships, and expressing joy through painting and singing.

Karen completed special education and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1976. She later said often that her favorite memories were working in the school cafeteria making milkshakes for other students and washing their dishes. Karen then worked for a few years at EBI BreakThru in Lake Odessa, a sheltered workshop that her mother helped create, that served young adults with disabilities living in Eaton, Barry, and Ionia counties, helping them achieve new levels of independence, work experience, and integrated workplace readiness. Karen’s parents then enrolled her in a 2-year residential independence training program in Grand Rapids, leading to Karen’s placement in group housing with Thresholds and various workplace assignments with Hope Network. In January 2000 while walking across 28th Street during a pre-dawn walk to work, Karen was struck by a car and sustained a traumatic brain injury.

After prolonged inpatient rehab therapies, Karen in 2004 became a resident in a neuro-rehabilitation residential home, becoming friends with other housemates with TBI. Karen greeted each incoming house staff and housemate’s family by name, asking “How are you?” Karen was hard core in her 6 AM workouts with Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons videos, and asked the staff to let her help with meal prep, clearing the table, and folding laundry. Karen enjoyed group outings with her housemates and individual outings and visits with family. Karen sang along at the top of her lungs at a Neil Diamond concert with Fred and Pat, went with Diane or Jim to restaurants or the movie theater, and went to many family gatherings. Karen’s sister Diane became Karen’s Guardian and was a strong overseer and advocate for Karen’s safety, care, activities and more.

Karen became a prolific painter of acrylics on canvas when Spectrum Health launched its Expressive Arts Program in 2008, where clients use a variety of creative processes to aid in their healing and rehabilitation while in continuing care. Karen expressed her heart by making paintings of things she loved, and loved talking with people who came to the Expressive Arts Expo at the Thumbs Up Gallery.

In 2018, when many residential neuro-rehab homes began closing, many of Karen’s housemates and house staff moved to the adjacent new Corewell Health RNC Kentridge. As Karen’s health and abilities declined, she remained content and happily occupied with coloring, word searches, onsite group activities, therapy pet visits, and choir, led by the talented and compassionate Recreation Therapists and other excellent caregivers there. Karen then just watched her friends’ activities as her own abilities greatly declined in her last 6 months with Corewell Health Hospice.

Karen was welcomed home to heaven by her parents Theron and Roberta (“Bobbie”) King of Lake Odessa, where Karen is now whole and free from lifelong limitations and struggles. Karen is remembered fondly by her siblings Steve (Connie) King of MD, Fred (Patricia) King of FL, Diane (and late Dale) Bates of Portage, and Jim (Laurie) King of Big Rapids; by their families; and by Karen’s Grand Rapids care family.

As pre-planned by her parents, Karen’s body has been cremated and her remains will be placed on top of her mother’s casket in Lake Odessa. A memorial service was held by Karen’s housemates and care team, and a hometown gathering and burial will be held in Spring 2026.

Please consider thanking and supporting the care programs that supported Karen, and consider making some of Karen’s life themes your own.