Karen Tews

Karen Tews was born June 28,1942, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Gerald Emberson and Sylvia Zessin. She grew up in West Bend and Hartford, Wisconsin and in 1957 her father, an engineer for the West Bend Company was transferred to Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Karen finished her high school education at Barrie Central Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1961. She attended the University of Western Ontario in London and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor's Degree in music. After graduating she worked at the St. Thomas Mental Health Hospital during music therapy and also played in the London Ontario Symphony Orchestra. In 1966 she moved to Toronto where she worked for the Children's Aid Society. In 1972 she moved back to West Bend, Wisconsin, were she was employed by the West Bend Company before working for the Washington County Department of Social Services as a Social Worker for over 21 years until she moved to Horseshoe Bend in November of 1996. She was married on August 6,1982, in West Bend to Rev. David Tews, pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Saukville, Wisconsin, and a Chaplain with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. After moving to Horseshoe Bend she continued working as a social worker at the Ash Flat Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center and then at the Eastern Ozarks Home Health and Hospice associated with the hospital in Cherokee Village. After her retirement Karen continued to be active with music at Shepherd of the Hills in Horseshoe Bend playing piano, organ, trumpet, and hammered dulcimer. She also was active in teaching VBS and Sunday School and working with the Youth Group and helping with the church quilters. She volunteered for Telecare, was certified as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and led an Alzheimer, Support Group in Horseshoe Bend. Besides singing in the Shepherd's Choir she also sang with the Horseshoe Blenders community choir. In May of 2013 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and after surgery, radiation and chemotherapy was able to enjoy her music, family and friends for several months before succumbing to the regrowth of the brain tumor. She was received into the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 1, 2014, at home with family around her. She was preceded in death by her parents Gerald and Sylvia Emberson and stepson Bernard Tews. She is survived by her husband David of Horseshoe Bend, sister Kristin Marchand (Eugene) of Combermere, Ontario, sister-in-Iove Nancy Corrigan (Joseph) of Shorewood, Illinois and three stepsons Gerald Tews (Stepahanie) of New Glarus, Wisconsin, Richard Tews (Robin) of Oxford, Arkansas, and Robert Tews (friend Jackie) of San Diego, California. She also is survived by six grandchildren, Lillie, Brodie and Sydney Tews of New Glarus Wisconsin, Rowen Tews of Port Washington, Wisconsin, Alexis Tews of Butler, Wisconsin, and Eli Tews of Oxford, Arkansas, two nieces Kristine Gilmore (Robert) of Joliet, Illinois, Danielle Marchand of Timberlea, Nova Scotia, and three nephews, Kevin Corrigan (Jessica) of Shorewood, Illinois, Robert Marchand (Mona) of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and Paul Marchand (friend Candice) of Winnipeg, Manatoba, and three grand nephews and four grand nieces and many other relatives and friends. Funeral service will be at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, on Friday, April 4, 2014 at 7:00 PM, with visitation at the church, Thursday, April 3, 2014, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Burial will be at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in Birdeye, Arkansas, Friday, April 4, 2014 at 12:00 PM. Memorials can be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Horseshoe Bend, CASA, or Alzheimer of Arkansas.