Karen L. Beystehner

Karen L. Beystehner, 80, of Harvard, IL passed away on September 22, 2024. Karen was born on February 10, 1944, in Harvard, IL the daughter of Morris and Lena (Luettke) Graves.

Karen married the love of her life Kurt in 1976 on Christmas Eve. Together they worked side by side daily, for 40 of their almost 48 years of marriage. For the past 31 years they have owned and operated Clavey's Nursery, Inc. together.  

Karen loved her children and her grandchildren and was so proud of them.  Karen was artistic and creative; she loved to sew, craft, and paint. She loved to write poetry and had a passion for reading, and in her lifetime read thousands of books. Karen enjoyed sitting in front of the fireplace and working on crossword puzzles.

Karen loved God's creation and would spend hours watching the birds and animals. She loved looking at the heavens on clear nights, sunrises and sunsets. Karen would spend hours watching lightning light up the sky and marveled at the majesty of God. Karen loved the ocean where she would walk for hours along the miles of sandy beaches.  

She loved reading and studying God's Word. Karen loved her church family and humbly stepped into the role of a pastor's wife. A role in life that Karen never expected to have happen but could not have been prouder when Kurt became the pastor at the Alden United Methodist Church. She was a devoted member of the Alden United Methodist Church, and a member of United Women in Faith. Karen had a passion for those in need and constantly wrote letters to the two children that she and Kurt sponsor in Haiti.  

Karen's gentle loving spirit will be missed, but this is not goodbye. Until God reunites us again, we thank God for the blessing of Karen in our lives. She gave us a small glimpse of God's true glory and a hint of what heaven will be like. God doesn't make mistakes and Karen's life was living proof and a testimony to God.  

Karen is survived by her husband Kurt, children Allison (Daniel) Bruenderman of Foley, MO, Stacey (Shawn) Conner of McHenry, IL, and John (Miranda) Beystehner of Castle Rock, CO, 7 grandchildren, 2 sponsored children living in Haiti, Djina and Windy, and her sister Bernadine (Jim) Slater of Schaumburg, IL.

She was preceded in death by her son Kevin Weiffenbach, her mother and father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and her father-in-law.

Visitation will be held from 9 AM until the 11 AM Celebration of Life service on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Jim Bell officiating, 1100 N. Division Street, Harvard, IL 60033.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Karen's name to the Alden United Methodist Church, 16532 Route 173, Harvard, IL 60033.  

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.saundersmcfarlin.net

Call Saunders & McFarlin Funeral Home for more info at 815-943-5400.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.