Karen Sue (Strange) Norris
With profound sorrow yet deep gratitude for her beautiful life, Karen age 87, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025. We had prayed for the Good Lord to take her gently and reunite her with her beloved husband, parents, and all those who had gone before. As her illness progressed, she simply said she was “going home,” but we knew she meant Heaven. She was, and forever will be, a shining light of grace, faith, and love to everyone fortunate enough to know her. She promised to greet us in Heaven with her cheerful smile and clever wit when our time to join the Lord comes.
Karen S. Norris was born on March 27, 1938, in Martin County, the fourth child of Timothy J. Strange (1908 aged 56 years) and Francis G. (Ford) Strange (1908 aged 82 years). Karen’s elder siblings were Tim J. Strange (1933 aged 83 years), Dave A. Strange (1935 aged 56 years), and Tommy F. Strange (1937 aged 82 years). Her younger siblings include Mary Joan. (Strange) Haag (1940), Micheal D. Strange (1942 aged 23) Katherine N (Strange) Love (1944), Norbert man Edward Strange (1948), and Frances A. (Strange) Doyle (1950).
On November 14, 1959, James J. Norris (1933 aged 70) purchased a marriage license from the Martin County Clerk for $5.00, and the following Saturday, he and Karen were married by Rev. Ralph Doyle. Witnesses were Joan Strange and James Farell. Karen and Jim built a lively, loving home and raised four children:
Lisa M. (Norris) Ruehl, born in 1962, mother of Natasha Blackwell (born 1987), Alex Ruehl (born 1998), and Zachary Ruehl (born 2000).
Mary Susan (Norris) Rebstock, born in 1963, mother of Adrien Mowery (1983 aged 29) and Sarah (Mowery) Appel (1984 aged 37). Always keep Adrien and Sarah in your prayers; rest assured that Grandma now has them under her wings. She loved them dearly.
Kelly J. Norris, born in 1964. It took Jim and Karen 18 months to decide to create him. Some say they should have waited a bit longer. He is the father of Casey Joseph (born 2001).
Hoping to improve on perfection, Kevin L. Norris was born in 1967. He turned out alright for a little brother, and we all love him dearly. Proud father of Tylan (born 1995) and Tierlan (born 2003).
Karen was far more than a person living her own life; she was a true gift from God, placed on earth for all of us to cherish, enjoy, and learn from. Excelling in her studies, she graduated from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Indianapolis and became a Registered Nurse in 1959, dedicating herself to caring for others with compassion and skill. A devoted Catholic and faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, she joyfully sang in the choir, lifting hearts with her voice in praise. She was also a talented artist whose love of drawing and painting brought beauty and inspiration to those around her.
As a deeply caring and loving mother, Karen had a remarkable gift: she could scold and cheer in the very same breath. With one hand, she could firmly drag a screaming child from under the bed for a necessary allergy shot, while gently spoon-feeding an infant with the other. Even when we turned her bathtub into a chaotic foam party using her expensive shampoo to bathe a stray dog we never doubted her boundless love for us. She was quick as lightning when needed but there were four of us! The stories of her patience, humor, and unwavering devotion are truly endless,
though we’ll save most of them for cherished family gatherings, where her spirit will live on in every laugh and memory shared.
Special thanks to Karen’s devoted fans and lifelong friends especially her beloved St. John’s Class of 1956. You truly rock! We all feel a touch of envy for those who came of age as teenagers in the vibrant 1950s, a time Mom cherished deeply. She adored Gus Haag’s memoirs from St. John’s Catholic School, often laughing that it felt like a real-life Grease only without a Sandra Dee. So many of our fondest memories center around “Grandma’s house,” where more than 30 cousins ran joyfully wild, David learned the hard way about angry bees, and grown men huddled confidently under the hood of yet another “project” car expertly diagnosing a faulty muffler bearing one week and a malfunctioning brake fluid light the next. As their ‘tool monkey’ we all knew the difference between a 1/2” Pabst Blue Ribbon and 3/8” Fall City.
Leo Haag has been a true pillar to the Strange family. He is Karen’s only surviving brother-in-law and has more than proven his worth. We are proud to call him family. Mary Jane (Norris) Crew is mom’s only surviving sister-and-law. Karen and Mary Jane were close friends. Susan’s husband Nick Rebstock has brought a lot of love and support to the family. Without Nick, we have no idea how Susan would have survived losing both her children and such young ages.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, James (Jim); their parents; her siblings Timothy, David, Thomas, and Michael ( Mickey); grandchildren Adrien Mowery and Sarah Appel; in-laws Ruth Ann Norris and her husband Jack Norris, Vic Crew (husband to Mary Jane), Alice Strange (wife to Timothy), Sue Strange (wife to Tommy), Jim Love (husband to Kay), Jeannie Strange (wife to Eddie), and Fred Doyle (husband to Francie).
She is survived by her four children, six grandchildren, and four great granddaughters, her siblings and two surviving in laws, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Dad passed in 2003 and now Mom has joined him, leaving only pictures and stories behind, the love of this great family will live on in our hearts—even if the details fade across generations. Mom, we love you and we will miss you. Until we meet again.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Very Rev. J. Kenneth Walker at 10:00 A.M, Monday, January 5, 2026 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Loogootee. Burial will follow in St. John Catholic Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Sunday, January 5, 2025 from 3:00 P.M until 6:00 P.M at Blake Funeral Home in Loogootee, Indiana, and again on Monday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:45 A.M. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Loogootee. Online condolences may be made at www.blakefuneralhomes.com
Blake Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Karen Sue Norris.
