Sister Karen Schettler, FSPA, 84, died Thursday, December 12, 2002, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse. She was in the sixty-first year of her religious profession.

For many years Sister Karen suffered with multiple sclerosis. On the day before she died, Sister Lucile, her sister, visited her in mid-afternoon. Unable to engage her in conversation about family members, Sister Lucile started talking about classmates of Sister Karen. At this Sister Karen brightened up and made remarks about a few of them. Thursday, December 12, started out like any other day for her at the Villa. Shortly before noon a nurse brought in her tray and commented about something on it. At 12:05 when someone else came in to pick up the tray, Sister Karen, had quickly and quietly slipped into eternity.

Sister Karen was born on July 10, 1918, the tenth of fourteen children, six sons and eight daughters, of Bernard and Emma (Hoebing) Schettler on a farm near Breda, Iowa. Her parents had picked out the name Laurence for their new child, but, since it was a girl, she was named Laurine Emma. Three months after Laurine's birth, two of her sisters died of influenza. All of the other members of the family were also ill with flu. In 1923 another sister, Georgia, died and was buried the day before Laurine started to school. Laurine attended St. Bernard's, School, Breda, throughout her elementary and high school. She enjoyed the trips she would make with her father and sister Lucile. As a child, she was very fond of music and would spend hours sitting at the piano (the keys were usually locked) "playing to her heart's content" and listening to the songs on the self-player roll of the piano. During her fifth year of school, she was allowed to take piano lessons. Laurine also liked to dress up as a sister and pretend to teach school. After high school, she worked at home for a year before entering Cherokee Junior College, Cherokee, Iowa. She completed the year's work and the teacher's examinations. She accepted a position as a teacher in a rural school in Sheridan Township. In the summer of 1938 Laurine had the opportunity to visit St. Rose Convent and was awestruck by the chapel of Perpetual Adoration. After a trip to Oklahoma to visit her cousins, she began another year of teaching in a rural school in Wheatland Township. By this time Laurine had definitely decided to become an FSPA and entered St. Rose Convent on August 17, 1939.

Karen was received into the novitiate on August 12, 1940, and received the name Sister Karen. She made first profession of vows on August 12, 1942, and final profession on August 9, 1948.

Having earned a bachelor degree with a major in organ, a minor in piano and violin, and a masters in education, Sister Karen served as a music teacher and organist for 28 years in parishes in Iowa, Washington and Oklahoma. From 1974 to 1981 she was involved with parish ministry in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and then was hospital chaplain in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for two years. Sister Karen retired to St. Rose Convent in 1983 and to Villa St. Joseph in 1990.

Community members, family, and friends will remember Sister Karen as an excellent organist and teacher, a great conversationalist. Her sense of humor endeared her to students, colleagues and friends. As mentioned earlier, she enjoyed the trips with her father and her sister. She also enjoyed the family trips to Oklahoma and the Black Hills in South Dakota and the trip with a friend to Chicago. She was sincerely interested in leaning and marveled at things in nature. This past summer Sister Karen celebrated her 60th Jubilee. She thoroughly enjoyed the celebration and the day with family.

Sister Karen is survived by her Franciscan community, including a sister, Sister Lucile Schettler, FSPA, La Crosse; one brother, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Rita) Schettler, Breda, Iowa; two sisters, Colette Grote, Carroll, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred (Rita) Lorenz, Omaha, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Florentine Schettler, Annabelle Schettler, and Clara Schettler, all of Carroll; two special cousins who lived with the Schettler family for a time, Mr. and Mrs. John (Rita) Hoebing, Columbus, Nebraska, and Mr. and Mrs. Roger (Joanne) Hoebing, Hayfield, Minnesota; and nieces and nephews. Her parents, five brothers: Vincent, Eugene, Leonard, Cyril and Joseph and four sisters: Cecilia, Leona, Georgia, and Marcella, preceded her in death.

Friends may call after 4 p.m., Sunday, December 15, when the body will be met at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Reverend Thomas O'Neill, Viterbo University chaplain, will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 16, in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse.

Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601-8800.

LaCrosse Tribune, Friday, December 13, 2002

Sister Karen Schettler, Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 12, 2002, at Villa St. Joseph, La Crosse.

Sister Karen was born July 10, 1918, to Bernard and Emma (Hoebing) Schettler on a farm near Breda, Iowa. She entered St. Rose Convent on Aug. 17, 1939, and made profession of vows in 1942.

Having earned a bachelor's degree with a major in organ, a minor in piano and violin, and a master's in education, Sister Karen served as a music teacher and organist for 28 years in parishes in Iowa, Washington and Oklahoma. From 1974 to 1981, she was involved with parish ministry in Tulsa, Okla., and then was hospital chaplain in Aberdeen, S.D., for two years. Sister Karen retired to St. Rose Convent in 1983, and to Villa St. Joseph in 1990.

Sister Karen is survived by her Franciscan community, including a sister, Sister Lucile Schettler, FSPA of La Crosse; one brother, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Rita) Schettler of Breda, Iowa; two sisters, Colette Grote of Carroll, Iowa, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred (Rita) Lorenz of Omaha, Neb.; nieces and nephews.

Her parents; five brothers, Vincent, Eugene, Leonard, Cyril and Joseph; and four sisters, Cecilia, Leona, Georgia and Marcella, preceded her in death.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, when the body will be met at St. Rose Convent, La Crosse. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. in Mary of the Angels Chapel. The Rev. Thomas O'Neill, Viterbo University chaplain, will preside at the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 16, in Mary of the Angels Chapel. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, La Crosse.

Memorials may be sent to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, 912 Market St., La Crosse, 54601-8800.

Blaschke Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.