Karen Marie Busch

Karen Marie Busch (nee Downs) passed on surrounded by loved ones at the age of 69 on

Saturday November 1, 2024 at Bay Area Hospital. She had battled cancer for over a year and a

half before admitting that she was losing the fight for her life. She left this world on her terms,

obviously looking forward to the next because she didn’t say goodbye, she told everyone “See

you later”.

Karen will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed in this world by her husband of 26 years,

Joe; her siblings, Rick, Margie(Ernie), John(Linda), Ellen, and Hal; her children, Cherie,

Al(Robin), and Christe; her grandchildren, Kristin(Justin), Tiffany, Chris(Tammy), Tim,

Caroline(Alex), Drea, Sunnny, and Billie; her great grandchildren, Lucas, Ethan, Emily, Marcus,

Wyatt, Haylie, Skye and Jerimiah; her best friend and sidekick, Gail; numerous other family

members and friends.

In the next world Karen will be met by her parents, Richard (Dick) Downs and Margaret (Carol)

Kissell, siblings Chuck and Lari-Lea, and granddaughter Nadean who have already taken this

journey.

In life Karen found a deep enjoyment in being outdoors. She had an avid love of photography as

an expression of herself. She mixed her loves which led to her main inspiration, the natural

beauty and incredibly fantastic complexities of flora and fauna. Her great love of photography as

a visual art form also inspired two of her granddaughters to take up photography as a hobby.

Karen was especially proud of her ongoing work in ministry. Those who minister and provide

testimonials to their fellow humans are a special kind of person. It takes a genuine commitment

of self to actively do things to make our world a better place. Karen was employed as a cashier

for Safeway Supermarket. She called this her 2 minute ministry. She used her love of meeting

new people. Karen touched an unknown number of lives during her time amongst us. From her

work with the bread and soup ministry to her efforts to minister to people awaiting court

proceedings in jail. She made an effort to care for people that many others did nothing for and

cares less about.

She walked on in the same manner that she lived her life.

She did it on her own terms. When she slipped away, she did so without pain and suffering.

She left quietly and quickly, her family and loved ones gathered closely around. Those of us

who couldn’t be there had thoughts of her in our hearts and tears for her in our eyes.

We mourn the loss with heavy hearts and sad eyes. Please remember that her time here is

worth remembering and her passing is worthy of the tears we shed.

Due to these and other reasons a celebration of her Life will be held at a later date; we’ll gather

at a place and tell the stories that we know. We’ll scatter our memories of her around amongst

ourselves for all to hear. We will cast the ashes of her mortal body in a place that she loved and

cherished above all others. May the spirit, mind and soul of our beloved and precious Karen live

forever in the house of the lord.

With deep love in our hearts and infinite sadness in our minds we say farewell to our dearest of

all friends.

We say thank you for being you, and send you wrapped in a warm blanket woven from the love

all of us feel for you.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Karen Marie Busch, please visit our floral store.