Karen L. VanDalen Obituary
A funeral service to honor and celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel at Calvary Bible Church, 855 S. Drake Rd. Kalamazoo, MI 49009, with Pastor Dan Johnson officiating. The family will receive friends at the church, beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour prior to the service. Private interment to be held at Cressey Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be given to Samaritan's Purse, c/o the funeral home.
Karen L. VanDalen, of Plainwell, MI, age 62, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. She was born in Bay City, MI, the daughter of William and Lois (Kassner) Davis. Karen was a woman of strength, grace, humility and faith. She had a wonderful smile, selfless personality; to know her was to love her and she will be missed. On April 24, 1987, she married Mark E. VanDalen. Together they shared a love for life and made many wonderful memories. Karen loved to travel and was always seeking out new places to visit. Summer months often found her heading north to spend time at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. She was a social butterfly who enjoyed going out to eat and evenings spent with family and friends. She took interest in the hobbies of others, this included time at the rifle range and several hunting trips with Mark. She was a hard worker and was a valuable employee at the A.M. Todd Company for forty-one years. When not working she enjoyed cross-stitch, reading, cooking and taking hikes. Karen was a woman of deep faith and was an involved member of Calvary Bible Church where she taught Sunday School for many years. Above all Karen loved her family and friends and she leaves behind the legacy of a life well lived. She is survived by her husband Mark VanDalen; father, William Davis; siblings, Dave (Shari) Davis, Sue (Joe) Crookston, Jim (Mary Beth) Davis; brother-in-law, Gordon (Ruth) VanDalen; sister-in-law, Charlene (Tom) Krupa; uncle and aunt, Clayton (Marilyn) Davis; cousin, Lora (Davis) Wagner; extended family and friends. She was preceded in passing by her mother, Lois; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl (Ruth) VanDalen.
