Karen Olmstead

Karen Ann (Goetz) Olmstead passed away in the early morning of May 19, 2023 surrounded by her loving family, thus closing the final chapter in the story of those five Goetz girls from the eastern U.P., whose shenanigans left us with an endless catalog of entertaining memories.

Karen was born in Cedarville, MI on July 4, 1938. She attended Cedarville Schools but graduated from Lansing Sexton in 1956.

On June 21, 1956 Karen married her high school sweetheart Hartwell ‘Joe’ Olmstead and they enjoyed a 56 year marriage. Their marriage was a beautiful example of how a couple should treat each other with love and respect.

Karen and Joe lived in Cedarville while working at the Hossack Store until moving to Battle Creek, MI in 1964. In 1969 they moved to Charlevoix, MI where she and her crew became passionate fans of recreational baseball, their commentary often humiliating many an opponent at the local ball field. As her children and grandchildren entered school sports, her dedicated attendance continued, perhaps with marginally more appropriate behavior.

Karen worked for years at Central Drug Store in Charlevoix, followed by a career in banking which included Charlevoix County State Bank and later retiring from Citizens Bank /CB North of Charlevoix (now Huntington Bank) in 2000. In retirement, she was blessed with endless days of playing with her grandchildren at “Olmstead Beach”, her home on Lake Charlevoix.

Karen’s love of family and friends was all consuming. Her home was always open and anyone who entered was made to feel welcome. Karen was a second mother to many. In her final years her love of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was her true passion and Sunday dinners were not complete without children playing and laughing in her home.

Karen is survived by her daughters Micki (Tony) Hagen of Charlevoix and Leanna Mosoryak of Charlevoix, son Tracy Olmstead (Chris Sellick) of Hessel, MI, her grandchildren Matthew (Renee) Mosoryak of Bellaire, MI, Michael (Channah) Mosoryak of Portland OR, Jennifer (Aaron) Jones of Branch, MI, Aaron (Madison) Hagen of Charlevoix, Sarah (Andy) Van Horn of Charlevoix, and Lisa (Jim) Zyble of Shelby, NC. Great-grandchildren were the center of Karen’s world. They include Coralie, Annabelle, and Hartwell Hagen, Mason Mosoryak, Olivia Reed, Sadie Mosoryak, Christopher Pulliam, Moiraine and Elowen Jones, Jimmy (Brianna Gunter) Zyble, Jack (Laura) Zyble. Karen was also dearly loved by her sister in-law Margaret Garvey and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband Joe (Hartwell), her parents Bill and Hazel Goetz, parents in-law Hartwell and Verna Olmstead, sisters Ruth Cutler, Laurel Tigner, Donna (Bob) Muscoe, and Raechel (John) Alberts, son in-law Jay Mosoryak, nephew Paul Muscoe, and great-nephew Luke Bickham.

Our family would like to acknowledge their appreciation to the people who helped make her final days easier. They include Raechel Wright, Mary Tigner-Rasanen, Jerry Keie, Scott Olmstead, Aaron and Madison Hagen and family, Sarah and Andy Van Horn, Matt and Renee Mosoryak and family, and Mary and Jim Schwaderer.

As per her wishes memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Charlevoix Area Humane Society at 614 Beardsley St., Boyne City MI 49712.

No services are planned at this time.

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com