Karen E. Stifle, 72, of 11B Road, passed away with her loving family by her side at 12:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, February 21, 2014.
      
       Born in Gary, Indiana on February 24, 1941, Karen Elaine was the daughter of Kenneth E. and Grace M. Riley Metzler. She graduated from Horacemann High School with the class of 1959.
      
       On June 6, 1959 in Gary, Indiana, Karen married James D. Stifle.
      
       Karen returned to school, attending the College of DuPage from 1976-1979, and attained her nursing degree. She worked in various hospitals in the Illinois area until the couple moved to Plymouth in 1992, when she started at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center as an O.B. nurse. She enjoyed bringing babies into the world.
      
       After retirement, Karen worked one day a week on post follow-up, making telephone calls to patients, checking on their status. She also enjoyed knitting, sewing, shopping with the ladies, her cats, and especially watching her grandchildren grow up.
      
       She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Plymouth, where she enjoyed singing in the choir.
      
       Karen is survived by her loving husband, Jim, and their three children: Lori Lynn (Mike) Barnick and their two children: Nicole and Kyle, of Geneva, IL, Jamie Loraine Grzesik and her seven children: Chance, Denim, Season, Journey, Edge, Garden and Hutch, of Lagrange, GA, and Kenneth Alan (Angie) Stifle and their two children: Lindsey and Kellie, of Plainfield, IL. Also her sister, Dorothy Steinke of Plymouth.
      
       She was preceded in death by her parents.
      
       Friends may visit with Karen?s family from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2014 in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN.
      
       Funeral services officiated by the Rev. Larry Marhanka, pastor of The First United Methodist Church, will be held in the funeral home immediately following visitation at 6:00 p.m.
      
       Burial will be in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL.
      
       Memorial contributions can be made to Center for Hospice Care 112 S. Center St. Plymouth IN 46563.