Karen Boegael Lynch's Obituary
Karen Lynch passed away on Thursday after a short battle with cancer. She touched many lives with her compassionate and welcoming spirit as a confidant and friend to most all she met.Karen was born in Philadelphia PA, graduated from Ridgewood NJ High School and from the University of Iowa, majoring in Physical Education. Her first job after college was as a teacher in New South Wales Australia where the first clue to her love of animals was when she bought her first menagerie: a horse, a border collie, and a bird. Upon returning to the states, Karen decided to settle in the Bay Area, largely as a result of her quest for warm weather. She met her husband, Loring, in 1979 and they were married in 1980 in Portola Valley, Ca. Their marriage included living in Detroit MI, Colorado Springs CO, and Fremont CA. Karen's lifelong history of giving to others included coaching the youth soccer and basketball teams of her children, rescuing dogs from animal shelters and seeking their adoption, working as a baby cuddler at Washington Hospital in the special care nursery, and serving as a foster parent for special needs babies in Alameda County. She was an equestrian and spent hours caring for and riding her horses and hanging out with like-minded ranch folks. She was most comfortable when surrounded by her two pups or relaxing at her beloved lakehouse. Karen is survived by her husband, Loring Lynch of Fremont, sons Ryan Lynch of Ft Lauderdale FL, Scott Lynch of Hoboken NJ and Ross Lynch of Napa CA, daughter Valerie Vasquez of Fremont, father Robert Boegel of Clinton IA, sister Kathryn Tiefenthal of Plainwell MI, nephew Christopher Tiefenthal of Arlington VA, and niece Kaitlin Tiefenthal of Delaware OH . She was preceded in death by her mother Merle Jean Smith of Clinton IA. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service honoring Karen and celebrating the joys of her life at the Chapel of the Chimes 32992 Mission Blvd. Hayward, CA. 94544 at 1:30pm on Wednesday March 21. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to one of the animal rescue organizations she was passionate about: Group Education to Protect and Defend Animals (GEPDA) c/o 2005 Ocaso Camino Fremont, CA. 94539
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