Kari Kahler: Grit – Perseverance – Joy! Kari embraced life and oozed Joy and Happiness!
Her journey of having cancer, led her to hugging Jesus on August 12, 2023. She was born in Kansas, with strawberry blonde hair, that reflected the beautiful prairie sunrises. Even though chemo had taken her hair, her eyebrows remained just as beautifully colorful as the day she was born. It was September 7, 1957, when the winds of the west graced her cheeks and welcomed her to this world of wonder. Kari's parents soon followed the west winds and found jobs in Detroit. She grew up in East Detroit, which now has the boujee name of East Point, then they moved to Rochester, MI where she graduated from high school.
Michigan State University called her name; she answered by discovering her husband, Chad, and earning three degrees from those hallowed green and white halls. A bachelors, a masters and in 2014, after many years of working full time at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC), helping raise two daughters (Cori & Casey), and balancing others activities – like helping start the Empire Area Food Pantry, and being a member of the Kahler family dog sled racing team (it sounds fast, but we really weren't) – Kari received her PhD in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education.
Kari trusted Christ! She carried the Joy of Jesus in her heart wherever she went. Even right up to her final time, Kari graced us with her version of Mona Lisa's smile. She realized the importance of traveling as a family – camping throughout the East Coast, the western mountains, and all over Michigan, she made sure our daughters were exposed to new ideas and adventures. Kari was an integral part of our 15-year adventure of dog sledding and loved being part of the mushing lifestyle and all the happiness of running dogs. Both Casey & Cori shared a bedroom growing up which made it simple for Kari to read to them every night, books as diverse as Harry Potter to Little House on the Prairie and many more. Her beautiful voice not only was a sweet sound to us in the evenings, but also on Sunday morning in the church choir. No matter what time in the evening, she would come home from NMC (usually 7 or 8 or later), she always had energy for her family and we always ate together and shared our days. After becoming empty nesters, Kari & Chad would eat their dinner on TV trays in front of the fire and chat about their day. Chad will really miss their "hygge" time together!
Kari was passionate about Northwestern Michigan College. She fulfilled the NMC mission by "delivering lifelong learning opportunities to transform lives and enrich our communities." Forty-two years of energy, she spread through the college community – starting in housing, working in student services, career planning, and becoming an Associate Dean for Learning Services. She was in charge of the Honors Program and the honor society for two-year colleges (Phi Theta Kappa/PTK). Kari truly helped, not just NMC students (25 years as PTK advisor) go beyond their own expectations, but students all across Michigan by being the Regional Coordinator for PTK for more than 10 years. Then there was Blair Elementary School. Kari co-founded the NMC program to have NMC students mentor fifth grade students at Blair. This has been an amazing success for the mentees AND the mentors as well – once again fulfilling NMC's mission statement.
Kari, with all her vibrancy, dedication, willingness to serve, and Joy, is being missed so very much!
We can't believe she's gone.
Kari is preceded in death by her parents Tom & Paula Truffelli. She is survived by her LOVING husband Chad, of 41 years, her daughters Cori & Casey, her siblings: Sandy (Tom) Bergh, Dave (Kay) Truffelli and Lisa (Carl) Lacroix, her Aunt Donna (Mike) Baker and many nieces and nephews.
Kari requested in lieu of flowers, donations be given to the Dr. Kari Kahler Scholarship, that she established (scholarship money will be awarded to a fifth-grade graduate of Blair, if they go to NMC) nmc.edu/dr-kari-kahler or Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Glen Arbor.
The family wants to thank the NMC community and all the staff at Munson/Cowell for all their love, guidance, and support during Kari's journey.
Visitation is from 1-2 PM and Celebration of Life (past and eternal) is at 2 PM at Northwestern Michigan College's Hagerty Center (715 E Front St, Traverse City, MI) on Saturday, August 26.