KAREN BAERBOCK
KAREN BAERBOCK
Karen Mildred (Kasten) Baerbock, 76, of Merrillan, WI, went to be with her Savior July 11, 2023, at her home in Merrillan, WI, after a lengthy battle with ALS.
Karen was born June 25, 1947, in Port Washington, WI, the daughter of Edgar and Hertha (Kringel) Kasten. She attended elementary school at St. John’s Lutheran School in Newburg, WI. From there, she went on to attend Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, WI, for her high school education. In her pursuit of a teaching degree, she attended Milwaukee Lutheran Teacher’s College in Milwaukee, a two-year college, before finishing her education at Doctor Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, graduating with a BS degree. Her first teaching call was to teach K-2 at St. John-St. James Lutheran School in Reedsville, WI.
Karen married Ronald Baerbock Aug. 1, 1970, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Newburg, WI.
She used her teaching skills in many ways as she followed her WELS pastor/missionary husband in his divine calls. At Star of Bethlehem in New Berlin, WI, she taught kindergarten in the newly opened school. At King of Kings Lutheran church in Kennewick, WA, she also helped with the teaching in that new school. In 1987, Karen, with her husband and family, traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, to learn Spanish for doing mission work in Latin America. Over the next 20 years, they lived in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Sonora, Mexico. Karen taught Bible lessons to the children in many of these areas while her husband did the same with the adults. While in Mahahual, Costa Maya, Mexico, Karen not only taught the children’s Bible class in Spanish, but also taught uneducated children to read and write Spanish. She served as church secretary for several years at Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in El Paso, TX. At Bethel Lutheran in Menasha, WI, she helped with the teaching of ESL classes.
She loved to cook, garden, sew, crochet, stamp and spend time with the grandchildren.
Karen is survived by her husband Ron, and four children: Brenda (Matthew) Henning, Amy (Mark) Kuether, Matthew (Sara) Baerbock, and Joshua (Rachel) Baerbock. She is survived by 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, along with three siblings: Kenneth (Patricia) Kasten, Kendall (Linda) Kasten and Kathleen (Dennis) Heinen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Hertha Kasten, two nieces, grandparents and many aunts and uncles.
Karen’s Christian funeral will be Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 11 a.m., at Faith Lutheran Church, N6598 County Rd. A, Black River Falls, WI. Visitation will be from 8-11 a.m. before the service, with a lunch to follow the service. The service will be livestreamed.
Memorial suggestions as we remember Karen: Faith Lutheran Church; Costa Maya Ministries (Mexico); Mission to the Children (Mexico); ALS Association.
The Torgerson Funeral Home of Black River Falls is assisting with final arrangements, 715-284-4321.