Karen Jo Eatherton
Dec. 30, 1948 – Feb. 26, 2026
Karen was born Dec. 30, 1948, to Richard and Dorothy (Simpson) Feiner. She 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, Neb., in 1970.
Karen became a Lutheran grade school teacher, serving in Zion Lutheran School in Harbine, Neb.; Immanuel Lutheran School in Olivette, Mo.; and St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson, Mo. 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.
Karen met her future husband, Lonie (Lawrence) Eatherton in the Walther League. They were married Aug. 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 to the family. Karen and Lonie were 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 loved to read and encouraged her children to do the same. She also loved to sing and cherished the hymns of the church that expressed her Christian faith. Karen and Lonie began singing together before they were married and often sang duets for worship and weddings. They loved praising the Lord together in song and singing in the church choir was one of her great joys.
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. She served the Lord with joy, always looking forward to going home to heaven. She passed from this life to life eternal with God her Savior in heaven early on the morning of Feb. 26. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; her aunts and uncles; and a sister, Debby L. Feiner, who died one month ago. She is survived by her brothers, Rick Feiner (Debbie), Lance Feiner (Sheryl); her sister, Renee’ Pyatt; her husband; her children; her grandchildren; and great-grandchildren; and many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Visitation will be held 4–8 p.m. Friday, March 6 at Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway in Ballwin, and Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church, 8343 Gravois Road in Affton. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery at 2 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) or Concordia University, Nebraska.