Karen Kaye (Whittaker) Wetzel, 55, of Buchanan, MI, passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, IN.
She was born July 27, 1961 in Niles, MI to Kay Craw and Lewis Whittaker, Sr. In 1979, she graduated from Berrien Springs High School then received her Bachelors of Business-Accounting from Western Michigan University in 1983. On November 26, 1986, she married Dale Wetzel in Berrien Springs, MI. Karen is survived by her husband of 30 years, Dale; children, Jon (Jenette) Wetzel, Rachel (Spencer) Campbell, Donna Wetzel; mother, Kay (Mike) Craw; grandchildren, Mackenzie, Renee, Clayton, Kelsi Wetzel, Sheamus Campbell; siblings, Michael Whittaker, Lewis (Cindy) Whittaker Jr, Phillip (Susan) Shoop, Daniel (Lori) Shoop; and step-siblings, Dr. Michael Craw, Jon Craw, and Shannan Craw. She is preceded in death by her father, Lewis, and daughter, Dayle. A funeral service for Karen will be at 11 am on Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Buchanan Christian Church, 112 W. 3rd St., Buchanan, MI 49107.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, March 1, 2017 from 4 – 8 pm at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to Redbud Area Ministries, 708 N. Red Bud Trl, Buchanan, MI 49107, Buchanan Christian Church, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com.