Karen Lea Childers Holmstrom was born July 8, 1948, to Ora Lea Chernosky and Tommy Whitley Childers in Gonzales. Karen went to be with her Lord and joined her beloved husband, James Carroll Holmstrom, Jan.23, 2023. She was a baptized and confirmed member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
She lived her first 18 years in the small town of Waelder, with her parents; sister, Valerie Sue Volk; brother, Tommy Max Childers; and beloved grandparents, August and Novella Chernosky. She graduated from Waelder High School in a class of 15. She went to work for the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1967, and retired in 1998 after 31 years of service.
On May 15, 1982, she and her beloved husband, James Carroll Holmstrom, were married at Gethsemane Lutheran Church. With the marriage came Carroll’s three children, daughter, Jan Carole Kruse, and sons, Russell Jay (Marylin) and Terry Myall (Tammy) and their families.
Karen and Carroll loved their retirement years and being able to travel with their muchloved Greta and Sofie.
They enjoyed many trips to Tennessee. Karen especially loved the Great Smoky Mountains. She felt truly blessed to have been able to share her life with Carroll and all those she loved.
She is also survived by her brother, Tommy Max Childers; sister, Valerie Sue Volk; beloved nephews, Kevin Lynn Laake and Jason Allen Whitley Crozier; niece, Misty Renee Greget, and their families; her guardian angels, Brian and Diana; and their beautiful angels, Addison and Matthew.
A visitation will be held Sunday, Jan.
29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home.
A celebration of life will be held Monday, Jan. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Austin.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Karen’s honor to Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 200 W Anderson Ln., Austin, TX 78752, or to the ASPCA, www. aspca.org.
Arrangements entrusted to Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home.
