Karen Alstrup

Karen Marie (Schlumpberger) Alstrup, 73, of Cornelius, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2021 with her loving husband by her side.

Karen was born on November 14, 1947 to Marcus and Carolyn (Johnson) Schlumpberger in New Ulm, MN. She later went on to graduate from New Ulm High School in the class of 1965.

In 1967, Karen met John Alstrup at a Halloween party and the two were inseparable from that point on. Karen and John were married for over 50 years and had 2 children, Jeffrey and Melanie.

Karen resided most of her life in New Ulm and Apple Valley Minnesota but after retirement also lived in Arizona and North Carolina to be closer to her family.

Karen enjoyed cooking and all the little things that oftentimes go unappreciated. She took all the ugliness in life and held it with ease. She practiced unconditional love and gentle hugs. Nearly every time she spoke it felt like poetry escaping. She loved the heat of the sun on her bones and enjoyed the beauty of nature that God had created.

She’d laugh whenever you laughed. When she had nothing left to give, she somehow managed to give it. She always knew how she felt and never hesitated to express it.

Karen was the Wonder Woman we all needed in our lives. Even in pain she put a smile on her face and showed us true strength.

To honor her we will try to grieve her selflessly as she was in her pain and her unwavering care for her friends and family. She was primal in the way that she suffered and especially in the way that she loved.

Karen was predeceased by her parents Marcus and Carolyn (Johnson) Schlumpberger, her sister Susan (Tina) Schlumpberger and brother Mike Schlumpberger.

Karen is survived by her husband John Alstrup; son Jeffrey (Maggy) Alstrup; daughter Melanie (Greg) Reeder; granddaughters, Hanna Reeder and Natalia Alstrup; grandsons, James Alstrup and Johnathan Reeder; two sisters, Bonnie (Jerry) Ubl and Lois Castaneda; brother Dale Berger and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The interment will be held on April 30, 2021 at 10:00 AM at New Ulm City Cemetery.