Karen graduated from Harrison High School in 1968. She graduated from Indiana State University in 1973 with a Bachelor s degree in Special Education, she went on to graduate in 1976 with her Masters. She taught special education at Glenwood School, worked as private tutor, taught at Job Corps in Morganfield, KY and worked as Pharmacy Technician at Walmart. She married Raymond Schaefer in 2015. Karen loved to do needlework, play bingo and word puzzles. She was a kind and friendly person. She always had a nice smile and was always willing to help others.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Eleanor (Leighty) Rhoads; brother, Vincent Rhoads; husband, Raymond Schaefer (2018).
Karen is survived by her sister, Janet Leistner (Howard) and Howard’s sons, Michael and Bradley Leistner; sister-in-law, Stacey Rhoads and daughter Olivia; uncle, Richard Davis of Birmingham, MI; and step-son Michael Schaefer.
A special thanks to Evansville Protestant Home where she enjoyed assisted living and to Heart to Heart Hospice who helped care for her during her final days.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Alexander West Chapel officiated by Pastor Terry Farmer and Pastor Ryan Bradney with burial to follow in St. Paul’s UCC- German Township Cemetery. The funeral will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/FuneralStreamUSA. Friends may visit from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to EVSC Foundation for Teacher Locker, or Vanderburgh Humane Society.
Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.
