Karen Barling Fritz

Karen Barling Fritz died peacefully on October 30, 2025, aged 87, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Karen was born in Pontiac, Michigan, on June 17, 1938. She studied Education at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor while living at Martha Cook, and met fellow student, Don Fritz. They married after graduation and built a beautiful house in Ada, Michigan, where they raised their family. She shared her love of reading, wordplay and puns, music and musicals, pets, gardening, knitting, sewing, and all things cultural with her 3 daughters.

Karen taught 7th and 8th grade English, History, and Social Studies at Forest Hills Northern for 25 years and sparked a love of language among hundreds of students. Karen and Don enjoyed extensive travels throughout North America and Europe, where they visited architectural sites and family ancestral spots in Germany and Sweden. She will be remembered for knitting over a hundred personalized Christmas stockings for extended family members.

After retirement, she and Don built a home outside of Traverse City and enjoyed “Up North” life for 20 years with frequent visits from their 3 grandchildren on Pearl Lake. Ever the educator, Karen became a docent at the Dennos Museum.

During the past few years, they lived at Clark at Keller Lake and developed new friendships with many neighbors. Karen was involved with the book group and creative writing club, as well as attending plays, lectures, ballets, and symphony performances with them. She spent the past year writing poems and short stories, full of rich characters and relationships, with descriptions that referenced details from her own life.

Karen was a self-professed shy person, who nonetheless made lasting impressions on so many people she met, worked with, and taught over the years. Karen lived a rich life, full of travel, music, art, and love of family. She is survived by husband Don, daughters Mary Ellen Fritz (Dave Herscher), Barb Fritz, and Liz Fritz (Andre Durocher), grandchildren Anna and Sarah Herscher, and Freddie Fritz-Durocher, and will be missed so much by her family and countless friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Karen’s name and share stories and memories about Karen and spread the joy of knowing her.

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