Karen Jo (Feiner) Eatherton

For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever          believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16                              ~ Karen’s Confirmation Bible Verse ~

KAREN JO (FEINER) EATHERTON was born on a fine, wintry Thursday, December 30th, 1948, first-born of five children to Richard and Dorothy (Simpson) Feiner.  She was baptized in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and given new birth as a child of God and an heir of heaven.

Karen grew up and attended school in the St. Louis area, graduating from Lafayette High School in Ellisville in 1966.  She received her associate degree from Meramec Community College in 1968 and her B.S. in Education from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska in 1970.

Karen became a Lutheran grade school teacher serving in Zion Lutheran School, Harbine, Nebraska; Immanuel Lutheran School in Olivette, Missouri; and St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson, Missouri.  She also worked for many years as a secretary to various AAL and Thrivent agents, and got to know many fellow Lutherans throughout the area. 

Growing up, Karen was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellisville. There she was confirmed in the Christian faith, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and served as secretary of the Walther League youth group.

Karen met her future husband, Lonie (Lawrence) Eatherton in the Walther League. They were married on August 23, 1969. They were blessed with three children: Benjamin (1973), Samuel (1974), and Elizabeth (1977). Their spouses, Penny, Lois, and David, have also been great additions and blessings in the family. Karen and Lonie were also blessed with nine grandchildren: Chelsea, Ashlee (Gadge), Hannah (Hans), Rebekah (Grant), Ruth, David, Sarah, Paul, and Jane. In addition, there are already six great-grandchildren in the family: London, Bentley, Noah, Edwin, Lewis, and Madelynn.

Karen was always an active member of the church women’s group, often serving as secretary. And she loved collecting mites for L.W.M.L. mission projects. For a number of years she prepared pages for the Braille Society. Karen also enjoyed preparing quilts with the other quilters at church.  At home she cared for her flower gardens, her birds, her children, and her always-hungry husband. In her later years she took up knitting and made beautiful scarves for everybody with a couple hundred extra for the craft sale at church.

Karen loved to read. She got her kids happily doing the same. Karen also loved to sing. She loved the hymns of the church that expressed her Christian faith.  Karen and Lonie began singing together already before they were married. They often sang duets for worship and for weddings. They loved praising the Lord together in song. And singing in the church choir was one of her great joys.

Ben, Sam, and Beth all agree that they had a great Mom. And they have the stories to prove it. Karen herself said often that having kids was one of the best things she ever did.  

Although Karen’s years of teaching in a Lutheran school were few, her years of teaching Sunday School were many. Beginning with fifth graders when she was only a high school sophomore of 15, she continued teaching Sunday School children right up to the time Lonie retired from full time pastoral ministry. She loved the kids. And they remember her with fondness. The Sunday School teacher grows in faith just as much as the children who are taught. 

Karen, or “Mrs. Pastor” as a few of her many friends called her, was a wonderful pastor’s wife. She was not only active in the congregation, she was always friendly and caring with everyone. She was lovingly supportive of her husband’s role as pastor and was a great encourager to him. And best of all: she, like her husband and their children, was gospel-centered in faith and life in the love and grace of Jesus Christ, her Savior and Lord, for forgiveness, life, and salvation. Praise the Lord!

Karen and Lonie have been married over 55 years. Karen might admit that through many of those years they were poor as church mice. But even then they gave thanks to God. God blessed them richly in so many ways. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want! And that was the truth. God always provided what was needed. But, even more so, the blessings were so abundant and overflowing from the people of the congregations they served. They were never poor. God took good care of them. They were always rich!    Karen was, by God’s grace, a redeemed child of God. She trusted in her crucified and risen Savior for forgiveness and the sure hope of heaven. And so, she served the Lord with joy, always looking forward to going home to heaven.

Karen passed from this life to life eternal with God her Savior in heaven early on the morning of February 26. Praise the Lord. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, all her aunts and uncles, and by a sister, Debby L. Feiner, who died just one month ago. She is survived by her brothers: Rick Feiner (Debbie), Lance Feiner (Sheryl), and by one sister: Renee’ Pyatt. She is also survived by her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and by many beloved in-laws and out-laws, nieces and nephews and other family members. We all miss her and look forward to being with her again some day in heaven, by God's grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. To God be the glory!

Services: Funeral service at Salem Lutheran Church, 8343 Gravois Road, Affton, Saturday, March 7, at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Oak Hill Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. If desired, contributions may be made to Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) or Concordia University, Nebraska. Visitation at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Ballwin, Friday, March 6, from 4-8 p.m. and at Salem Lutheran Church, Saturday, March 7, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.