Karen L. Shilling

Karen L. Shilling, 66, of Belle Plaine, MN and formerly of New Ulm, MN passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at Mayo Health System in Mankato. The funeral service will be held at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, on February 2, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. Rev. John Meyer, will conduct the service. The children of Trinity Lutheran School will sing during the service. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. at the church. Interment will take place on Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery in New Ulm. Memorials may be directed to Student Assistance at Martin Luther College, to Trinity Lutheran Church, Belle Plaine, or to the donor's choice. Karen was born in Beaver Dam, WI on Dec 14, 1948 to Rev. Edwin A. Breiling and Irmgard D. Breiling (Pape). She was baptized by her father, Rev. E. A. Breiling at Frieden's Lutheran Church in Randolph, WI. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith by her father at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, West Bend, WI. After graduating from West Bend Senior High School she enrolled at Dr. Martin Luther College and graduated with the class of 1971. Karen was married to Professor Ronald L. Shilling at St. John's Lutheran Church, New Ulm, MN on August 22, 1971. Rev. Frederic Nitz and Rev E. A. Breiling participated jointly in the wedding service. Karen taught physical education at Martin Luther Academy and Dr. Martin Luther College during the 1971-72 school year. She also coached women's tennis at the college for several years. She became a stay-at-home mother during the years before her children were ready to attend school. She began working in the Print Shop at Dr. Martin Luther College in 1980. When the amalgamation of Dr. Martin Luther College and Northwestern Lutheran College took place in 1995 she moved from the print shop to the Help Desk in the Network Services Department at the school now named Martin Luther College. She retired in 2010. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Ronald Shilling, by son David (Laura) Shilling, Atlantic Beach, FL and daughter Deborah (Dan) Peterson of Racine, WI. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Joshua and Emma Shilling, and Ella and Jack Peterson. Additional survivors include sister Naomi (John) Hardman of Ringle, WI and Janet (Joel) Fredrich of New Ulm, and sisters-in-law Mary Colburn of Findlay, OH and Marjorie Shilling of Belle Plaine, plus 6 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Rev. E. A. Breiling; her mother Irmgard Breiling; her father-in-law, Lester Shilling, her mother-in-law Grace Shilling and a sister-in-law Annie Shilling.

Previous Events