Karen Ann Schuster

Karen was born January 2, 1959, in Hammond, Indiana to Joe and Jean Schuster. She received a double bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She worked at the university for nearly three decades, riding her bicycle to work year-round no matter the weather. After leaving the university she started her own Graphic Design business which she continued to operate at the time of her sudden/untimely passing.

Karen was a wonderful artist known throughout the Boulder art community. She worked from her home studio with many art mediums, including the lesser-known clay monotypes, as well as oils, watercolor and acrylic painting, pottery, jewelry making and silk scarf painting,

On May 26, 1990, she married Norm Birchler. She met her future husband while teaching a whitewater kayaking class in 1986 and continued to whitewater kayak around the county throughout her life, with a particular love for the Cache La Poudre River near Fort Collins Colorado. An avid skier, former National ski patroller she loved both downhill skiing and Nordic (cross-country) skiing, most of the winter Nordic skiing at Brainard Lake State Park. She also volunteered with Ignite Adaptive Sports helping teach people with special needs to downhill ski, Nordic ski and snowshoe. She was game for anything, climbing fourteeners, fly fishing with her husband and close friends, backpacking, hut trips, mushroom hunting, traveling, the list is long.

Because of her love for all things Mother Nature, she was a relentless hiker, she could be found on Saddle Rock trail most early mornings, returning home with pictures of turkeys, grouse, deer, flowers, pretty rocks, whatever caught her artistic eye.

Karen loved her garden, growing no-till, organic vegetables, during the season we rarely bought produce from the store.

Always patient she was known for her infectious laugh and quick smile, a former Girl Scout leader, children loved her. Karen lived her life to the fullest, you couldn’t hold her back.

Karen is survived by her husband Norm, her parents Joe and Jean, her sisters, Barb, Tricia, Debbie, Mary and her brother Steve and many cousins, nieces, nephews, two Godsons Kai and Aamuro and Goddaughter Heidi.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 6th, 2022, at Crist Mortuary, 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO 80301 at 1 o’clock p.m. Masks required, masks will be provided. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Ignite Adaptive Sports on their website.

“Grief never ends… but it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith… it is the price of love.”

Elizabeth I