Karen Lee Fender
Karen Lee Fender, 71, of Williamsburg, Mich., passed away June 16, 2009, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born April 25, 1938, in Kalamazoo, Mich. she was the daughter of Harold and Mary (Heverly) Fitting, now deceased.
She graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in education. It was in Kalamazoo where she met and married Buz Fender at the Kalamazoo College Chapel on June 25, 1960.
Karen, Buz and their three sons lived in Mount Pleasant, Mich., for 30 years. The Fenders retired to the Williamsburg, Mich., area eight years ago and have wintered in Bokeelia for the past 12 seasons.
Mrs. Fender cherished her family, who will miss her deeply. She truly enjoyed her friendships and her membership in the PEO. As her hobbies, she liked sewing, stained glass, working in the garden and spending as much time as possible with her family. She will be greatly missed, but lovingly remembered for her many acts of kindness.
She is survived by her husband, Buz of Williamsburg; son, Mark (Nicole) Fender, and grandchildren, Caroline (14) and Susan (11), all of Holland, Mich.; sonm Mike (Paula) Fender and grandchildren, Emily (11) and Ryan (8), all of Crown Point, Ind.; son, Matt (Heather) Fender and grandchildren, Ashleigh (7) and Andrew (3), all of Elk Rapids, Mich.; and a sister, Linda (Dick) Stankey of Rockford, Mich.
Private services will be held on July 5, 2009.
Arrangements were made with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, Mich.