"Julie,
Please accept my sincerest condolences and prayers that God will wrap you and your family in His loving arms as you grieve the loss of your mom. I didn't know her, but I wish I had. What a legacy she left behind! May the peace of God and memories of your mom comfort you during this time and beyond. (Psalm 18:28 - "You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.")"
In loving memory of
Karen C. Van Handel
August 28, 1932 - November 16, 2015
Karen C. Van Handel of Green Bay passed away on Monday, November 16, 2015 from complications of a stroke at Alpha Senior Concepts in Howard.
Born in Green Bay, on August 28, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Amos and Lorraine (Nelson) Hoslet. The Nelson family were long-standing residents of the area and had resided between 1896 and 1902 in Tank Cottage, an Historic Home which is now located at Heritage Hill State Historical Park in Allouez. The Hoslets were from Namur, in Door County.
Karen graduated from East High School in Green Bay in 1950. She worked for Fort Hopkins Drug Store on Washington Street and, after graduation, joined Wisconsin Bell Telephone Company. As Bell's first Home Service Consultant, she cut her teeth in sales by marketing the first colored telephones. She later worked at Wisconsin State Bank and Moore Business Forms.
Her active Democratic National Party volunteerism led to her attending the 1960 Democratic National convention, and subsequently, to her being an invited guest to John F. Kennedy's inauguration. One of her cherished mementos is a personal letter from him thanking her for her work on his campaign.
Her successful career as a realtor began in 1974 after she returned to Green Bay having spent a number of years living in Madison, Connecticut. Her fulfilling 22-year career in real estate gave her tremendous personal satisfaction since she placed many local families in their very first homes, sometimes even lending them a portion of their down-payment. For her hard work, she was bestowed numerous National Association of Realtors top sales awards, and also often sold those very same clients their second and third homes. She retired from ERA Montgomery Realtors in 1996 and became an active volunteer in numerous organizations, including the Women's Guild of Nativity of our Lord Parish in Ashwaubenon, the Aids Resource Center, and the Weidner Center.
Karen was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and owner and held season tickets since the early 1960's. In her twenties, she enjoyed singing and dancing at the infamous "Piccadilly" on Green Bay's east side. She later cut a record with her friend, Darlene Bogart, featuring a few of her favorite songs, one being "Sentimental Journey." She was involved in Nativity's Choir and sang at many masses. She was a lover of travel, taking many cross country trips on her own with her three children, as well as traveling to Europe, New England, and to her time-share in Kissimmee, Florida. Often while travelling, she added to her collection of antique quilts and historic artifacts. She thoroughly enjoyed her Upper Peninsula "Karen's Kottage" on shore of Lake Michigan, where her ashes will be spread.
She was a loving, generous person with a great personality and sense of humor. She was artistic and creative and passed on those traits to her children and grandchildren. But above all, she loved each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with all her heart and soul. Karen lived with her eight years of Alzheimer's with grace and tears, and her last lucid hours and minutes were filled with family, friendship, singing and laughter and her usual sense of humor.
She will be sadly missed by her entire family: daughters Julie (Marvin) Smith of Ashwaubenon; Lori (Nancy) van Handel of Williamstown, Massachusetts; son Joel (Lisa) Van Handel of Green Bay, and step-sons; David (Annette) van Handel of Freiburg, Germany and Paul Van Handel of Guilford, CT; 6 grandchildren (and six great grandchildren): Lisa (Todd) Wagner (and Lewis, Rodney and Ivy); Molly (Jamie) Thompson (and Samuel, Autumn and Evangeline) and Dylan, Clara, Mimi and Jule van Handel. She is also dearly missed by her siblings and their spouses: Thomas (Judie) Hoslet, Gerald (Margie) Hoslet, and Char (Robert) Meulemans, as well as beloved cousins Donna Muenster, Jeannine Anderson and Jackie Frelich, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She was survived by her first husband, Robert Barbera and preceded in death by her beloved parents, Amos and Lorraine Hoslet, and her second husband, John R. (Jack) Van Handel.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, at Lyndahl Funeral Home, 1350 Lombardi Avenue, Green Bay, from 4:00 pm until the time of funeral service at 7:00 pm with Rev. John H. Harper officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been created. Contributions will support the Alzheimer's Association - Greater Wisconsin Chapter.
The family would like to sincerely thank their beloved friends: the entire staff at Alpha Senior Concepts in Howard, for their incredible, attentive and compassionate care, which is unmatched anywhere. They also extend special thanks to Doctor Patricia Demery and the staff of Hospice Advantage.