Karen Kay Ruder

Karen Kleinschmidt Ruder, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2023, into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born on August 23, 1944, in Lincoln, Illinois to Edwin and Agnes Kleinschmidt. She was a 1962 graduate of Lincoln High School, attended Valparaiso University, and then was married to Tom Kavelman and had her daughters: Kathy, Kristy, and Kelly. She graduated with an elementary education degree from Illinois State University in 1969.

After she and her family moved to Southern Illinois in the early 70s, she taught art and English for 15 years. She retired from teaching and owned and operated a restaurant and hotel and later worked in outside sales. In the early 90s she moved to the Memphis area to be closer to her daughters and began a 30-year career in office supply sales. It was more than a job to her as she became friends with many of her customers. She retired in 2020.

She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, where she served on the preschool board and was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), Altar Guild, and empty nesters and single ladies’ groups. She also catered and decorated for numerous events at the church.

She had a booth at Sheffield Antiques Mall, where she fulfilled her dream of operating a retail store. Her hobbies were gardening, cooking, and entertaining for her family and friends, but her greatest joy in life was being mother and Mimi for her three daughters and six grandchildren. They were her whole world.

She was loving, smart, creative, and independent in all her endeavors. Her family is confident that she heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” when she saw her Savior, as she faced the end of her earthly life with no fears.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Agnes Kleinschmidt. She is survived by her sister, Jane (Harold) Abramson; daughters, Kelly (Stephen) Beringer, Kristy (Todd) Hammett, and Kathy (Chuck) Martin; and grandchildren Conner Beringer, Hunter Beringer, Bailey Hammett, Hayden Hammett, Peyton Martin, and Chase Martin.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 6, at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 507 New Byhalia Road in Collierville. A reception will follow the service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Lutheran Preschool. The service will be livestreamed at www.faithcollierville.com.