Karen Ruth Strang

STRANG, KAREN RUTH (nee Jacobs) was born March 31, 1943 to Irwin Jacobs and Irma Jacobs (nee Crowder) in Trenton, Missouri. She grew up in a small town in rural Missouri, where she lived next door to her grandparents and the next town over from her aunts. In her youth, she played the flute, and was a drum major as well as a majorette. She attended Humphreys High School, graduating in a class of only 11 students, before attending Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now known as Truman State University), where she met her loving husband of nearly 60 years, Bob. Karen moved to southeast Michigan in 1964, where she became a Kindergarten teacher at Robert Frost Elementary School in Warren. Though she retired from teaching when her first child was born, she and her husband Bob started a heating and cooling business, Air Conditioning Engineers, around that time. She worked in many capacities with the company, including as secretary, accounts payable, accounts receivable, running payroll, and anything else that needed to be done. She was a caregiver for many over the course of her life. She also strongly invested in her family and friendships, including several which spanned many decades and even her entire life. Karen never met a stranger — she was a friend to all. She loved to travel to the condo she shared with her husband in Naples, Florida, as well as the cottage Up North. Karen was a beloved wife of the late Robert Strang and cherished mother of Julie (Jack) Costello and Sheri Ray-Lynne Strang; a proud grandmother of Emily (Amanda) Costello, Sarah Costello, and grandpuppy Sadie; a dear sister of the late Charlotte Jacobs; and sister-in-law to Jerry Strang and Chris Strang. She will also be greatly missed by two nieces, one nephew, one great niece, and many other family and friends. Visitation Sunday 3-8pm and Monday 9:30am until time of service, 10:30am, at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc. (Shelby Township) 54880 Van Dyke at 25 Mile Rd. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice of Michigan. Share memories with the family in their online guestbook at WujekCalcaterra.com.

Karen Ruth Strang

March 31, 1943 - August 14, 2025