Karen Emrich

Karen L. Emrich, 71, a resident of rural Huntertown and wife of James A. Emrich, passed away at 4:10 a. m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at Kingston Care Center. She had been in declining health for some time and had been a patient there for the past three months. Mrs. Emrich was born on June 5, 1943 in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Russell and Rose Elizabeth "Betty" (Beck) Gresley. She spent most of her formative years near Ossian and graduated from Ossian High School in 1961. As a young woman she graduated from the x-ray technician program at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, and was married in Poe on August 31, 1963 to James A. Emrich of Huntertown. Early in her life she worked as an x-ray technician at International Harvester in Fort Wayne for three years. One of her gifts was in working with children, and she was the founder and director of the Huntertown United Methodist Pre School, where she worked for 11 years. She was later employed in the cafeteria at Carroll High School. She was a member of the Daisy Maz's Home Economics Club, and enjoyed painting, riding horses, and most especially loved and cherished her family. The surviving relatives include her husband James A. Emrich, to whom she was married for over 51 years; her children Brian (Kim) Emrich and Beth (Daniel) Van Gerpen, both of Huntertown, Daniel Emrich of Fort Wayne, Steven (Lisa) Emrich of Pittsboro, N. C., David (Ginger) Emrich of Indianapolis, and Michael Emrich of Huntertown; her brother Ross Gresley of Catawba, S. C; and seven grandchildren. Her parents preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Monday, December 1, 2014, at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco with Dr. David D. Biberstein, officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 2 to 5 p. m. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, northwest of Huntertown. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46814 To leave an online condolence for the family in Mrs. Emrich's memory, click on "Condolences" below....