KAREN RUTH NEUSTAEDTER

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KAREN RUTH NEUSTAEDTER died peacefully on Sunday, March 6, 2005 at the age of 40. She leaves her parents, Paul and Marlene Neustaedter of Winnipeg; her brother Carl and his wife Louisa and daughter Zoe of Toronto; and many devoted friends and family. Karen was born on November 18, 1964 into a large and close extended family that grew to include many dear cousins. As a girl, she loved to read, play piano, ride horses and swim at the family's cottage on Royal Lake. An accomplished student, Karen graduated from the University of Winnipeg Collegiate before getting her Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and administrative studies from the University of Manitoba in 1986. She moved on to U of M's business school, where she graduated with a Master of Business Administration in 1990. Her MBA led her to work in human resources for Montreal Trust in Calgary and the City of Winnipeg. Her last and most meaningful job was at the Canadian Council for Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW), an agency devoted to encouraging companies to hire people with disabilities. By that time, Karen herself was living with the progressive ravages of Multiple Sclerosis. Her independent spirit, keen intelligence and resourcefulness made her a formidable foe to a relentless disease and an inspiration those around her. Karen loved travelling and she saw most of the country with her family as a child. Later, she twice toured Europe with friends. Karen wouldn't let MS stop from seeing people she loved in far away places. She would pack up her scooter and fly to see her dear Uncle Nick and Aunt Diane in Georgia, her brother Carl in Thunder Bay. When she went to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal to organize CCRW conferences, she would always connect with friends and family. Karen married Jeff Loewen in 1987 and they moved to Calgary in 1989, where she finished her MBA and worked for Montreal Trust. Karen's MS grew worse there and they moved back in 1990. Their marriage ended in 1991. Karen was outspoken and direct -- her friends and family always knew where they stood with her, for better or for worse. She was very clear to her brother and his wife, for example, about her desire to have a niece or nephew (they finally came through with a little girl who is growing to be as tall and independent as her Auntie Karen). It seemed to be the final indignity of MS that it eventually took her strong voice away. Karen was a member of the First Mennonite Church, where she developed many of her best friendships. She was fiercely loyal and generous, and her friends returned that loyalty and love through Karen's life, in good health and bad. Friends who were confidantes and roommates in earlier years became Karen's regular visitors when she could no longer get out to visit them: Ingrid Riesen, Carol Remmert, Karen Vogt, Helen Kasdorf, Margarete Moulden and her dear cousin Miriam Unruh. Karen's family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers who have made her life as comfortable as possible over the years: the staff at Luther Home, 1010 Sinclair, and finally at Seven Oaks Hospital, where she spent her last few days. Above all, the family thanks Tibor Polgar for his longtime devotion to Karen as caregiver and friend. Donations in Karen's memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 4-141 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg, R3B 0R3.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 09, 2005