Karen L. Colston

Karen L. Colston, 61, of St. Joseph, accepted eternal life on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, at her home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, August 30, 2008, at 10:30 A. M. at the First United Methodist Church, 3003 Leco Ct., St. Joseph, with Rev. Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 29, 2008, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the VanAndel Research Institute, or the American Heart Association. Those wishing to send a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Karen’s life began in Dayton, Ohio, on November 21, 1946, the second child born to Betty and Walter Armstrong, a housewife and photo engraver. Interests developed in her childhood remained a large part of her life. They included dancing with the Dayton Ballet Company, cheerleading, the college drill team and as a former dance aerobic instructor. Another lifelong interest, gardening, was shared by her father. Admiration of God in all living things was continually apparent as they shared the blessings of gardening. Today, Karen’s love of gardening is passed along to another generation, and her flowers bloom in several homes in Ohio, New Jersey, and Michigan. Karen’s flowers also can be found at Habitat for Humanity homes in Southwest Michigan and at the Berrien County Council for Children-The Children’s Assessment Center. She was a member of the Highcliffe Terrace Garden Club. Karen always enjoyed lifelong learning, and this interest was satisfied by her degree in Business and her 16 year career at Whirlpool, retiring in 2006. Diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in December, 2007, Karen continued to be blessed through her church, children, mother, and her loyal and caring friends, especially her adopted “sister”, Lois Wallace. She leaves this world anxious to start hand-in-hand with God on the next big adventure. Karen’s mother, Betty Armstrong, daughter Cyndi Colston of Boulder, Colorado, daughter-in-law, Theresa Colston, son Michael, and number one granddaughter, Reagan Marie Colston, were all present to celebrate the last moments of her life. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis V. Colston (1998), father, Walter Armstrong (2000), and brother, Mike (1970).