Karen C. (Miller) Gingerich

Karen (Miller) Gingerich, 71, Kokomo, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Howard Regional Health Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.  She was born in South Bend, Indiana, on November 26, 1952. 

Karen is a 1971 graduate of Taylor High School.  In 1998, Karen married Larry Gingerich, and they resided on their farm together for 25 years.

Over the course of Karen’s life, she was a beautician for many years before working at Eastco and later at Dr. Kuenzli’s office.  After working in healthcare for 10 years, Karen retired and began working on the family farm where she lived with her husband, Larry Gingerich, and loving Goldendoodle, RyLee.

Karen was most noted for her sense of family, strength, and strong will.  She proved this as she was a Melanoma and Leukemia survivor and a bone marrow transplant recipient.  Karen valued life and her faith. She was a member of Bennetts Switch Community Church.  She loved her children, grandchildren, sisters, family and friends. Karen loved to cook, play marbles, visit casinos, and travel with her husband and family.

Surviving are her husband, Larry Gingerich; children, Nichole “Nikki”  Kite (Josh), Beau White (Jennifer), Melissa Schaefer (Mike), and Melinda (Mike) Nigro; 13 grandchildren, Harvey (Alysse), Hunter, and Hannah Mills, Harrison White, Keagan and Joshie Kite, Abby, Jackson, Jacob, and William Schaefer, and Tyler and Alyssa Sonnefelt, Dom Nigro; father, Richard Miller and step-mother Joan; sisters, Dawn Hostetler, and Melinda Fernung (Kyle); step-sister, Charlotte (Steve) Cragun; “special niece” Angela Edwards, and several other nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Delores “Ann” Brenton and step-father Gilbert; sister, Ricky Ann Miller; brother, Rick Miller Jr.; mother-in-law, Fran Gingerich; sister-in-law, Karen Gingerich; and grandchildren, Madison and Edison Schaefer.

Special thanks go to the Howard Regional Health Hospital PCU nurses for caring for Karen.

Funeral services celebrating Karen’s life will be held at 11:00 am Friday, December 8, 2023 at Bennetts Switch Community Church, 2261 State Rd. 18, Kokomo. Burial will follow in Clymers Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.  Messages of condolence may be left online at www.shirleyandstout.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.