Karen Lee Hopkins Balthaser

December 11, 1955 - July 10, 2016

Karen Lee Hopkins Balthaser, beloved wife, mother, sister, Grammy, and all-around amazing human being, passed peacefully on July 10, 2016 in her Trabuco Canyon home at the young age of 60. After easily beating cancer two years ago, it returned and Karen ultimately succumbed to the disease.  Her life will be forever celebrated and remembered by many, especially husband Richard Balthaser, daughters Kirsten Hopkins Frazier and Natali Hopkins, stepsons Zachary Balthaser, Tyler Balthaser, son-in-law Bob Frazier, “daughter-in-love” Tiffany Kennedy, grandchildren Dillon, Lilly, and Gracie Frazier, brothers Chris, Claude, and Craig Bradley, and sister-in-laws Patricia, Ann, and Jeanell Bradley. Karen also blessed the lives of a large extended family with many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who all had the good luck to have her in their lives. She is now united with son Nick Michael Hopkins and parents Don and Bettie Bradley.  Karen Lee Bradley was born on December 11, 1955, in Tacoma, Washington. As the oldest child, Karen spent much of her early years outdoors building treehouses, creating fairy gardens and generally trying to keep her three brothers out of too much trouble. After Washington, the family lived in Las Vegas before planting permanent roots in Brea, California.   From a young age, Karen loved to dance. From modern, to hula, to tap, she excelled at all. She continued dancing at Brea Olinda High School on both the dance and drill teams, and was a member of the homecoming court her senior year. She graduated high school in 1974 and would go on to build the rest of her beautiful life in Orange County.  Her inherent desire to help people and excellent work ethic manifested in some of her earliest jobs. Karen enjoyed working at Drum’s Drug Store, at JCPenney as a supervisor for the women’s fashion department, and especially at Cannings Hardware Store with her brother Claude.  Karen married David Hopkins in 1977 and brought three beautiful children into the world – Nick, Kirsten, and Natali. Karen was a constant nurturing presence in their lives and applied her trademark passion and energy to countless endeavors. She was team mom for their soccer and little league teams, led Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and served as PTA president at Brea Junior High where she spearheaded the construction of the marquee that still stands today. Elementary and middle school teachers quickly grew to appreciate having the Hopkins children in their classes, because they knew Karen would participate as a class mom.  Karen’s loving nature was especially evident when her son Nick, fell ill with leukemia. Nick left an indelible impression on many family and friends, and ultimately passed at the too-young age of 20. Karen organized extensive fundraising campaigns for the Leukemia Society after Nick was diagnosed, just one more example of her big, beautiful heart.  After her daughters had grown and begun their own lives, Karen attended Cal State Fullerton where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a special education teaching credential. Karen embarked on a teaching career dedicated to helping those who needed her most; as an educator with at-risk youth in rehab centers, juvenile detention centers, group homes, and later as a special needs teacher’s assistant with autistic children. She respected her students, no matter their circumstances, and they respected and trusted her in turn.  Karen began a new chapter in her already full life when she met Rick Balthaser in 2000. They moved to Trabuco Canyon and were married in 2007. Rick came with two stepsons, Zack and Tyler, and Karen Balthaser jokingly referred to herself as their“Wicked-Step-Mother.”  She fell in love with the beautiful and rural canyon life, and was welcomed with open arms into many organizations. She served as Secretary for ETI Corral 357, volunteered for O’Neill Park and Canyon Fire Watch, and served on the Fourth of July parade planning committee.  Karen, a lifelong animal lover, amassed a loving menagerie that includes horses Sunny and Stormy, dogs Lucy, Sam, and Toby, cats Duke and Daisy, a dozen-or-so chickens and Hunni-Bunni the rabbit.  Even with Karen’s many wonderful accomplishments, she would be the first to say that her proudest accomplishment was being “Grammy” to grandchildren Dillon, Lilly, and Gracie.  Words cannot convey what Karen means to those lucky enough to have her in their lives. She brought love, passion, enthusiasm, goodness, laughter, and a humble and quiet strength to everything she touched and every relationship she built. She will always be remembered in the families she created and brought together. She has gone too soon, and we will always miss her.  Please join us in celebrating Karen’s Amazing Big, Beautiful Life: Friday, July 22, 2016, 2:30 Memorial Service at Memory Garden Memorial Park, 455 W. Central Ave, Brea, California. Cool, colorful, or tropical attire welcome.  The Celebration will continue at the Circle S Ranch at 5:30, 16211 Jackson Rach Road, Silverado, California. Join us for a BBQ Dinner, opportunity to share memories, slide show, and live music. Please bring a memory and a dessert (optional) to share! Donations in Karen’s honor can be made to Make A Wish Foundation.  A link has been provided below. Karen Lee Hopkins Balthaser, beloved wife, mother, sister, Grammy, and all-around amazing human being, passed peacefully on July 10, 2016 in her Trabuco Canyon home at the young age of 60. After easily beating cancer two years ago, it returned and Karen ultimately succumbed to the disease.  Her life will be forever celebrated and remembered by many, especially husband Richard Balthaser, daughters Kirsten Hopkins Frazier and Natali Hopkins, stepsons Zachary Balthaser, Tyler Balthaser, son-in-law Bob Frazier, “daughter-in-love” Tiffany Kennedy, grandchildren Dillon, Lilly, and Gracie Frazier, brothers Chris, Claude, and Craig Bradley, and sister-in-laws Patricia, Ann, and Jeanell Bradley. Karen also blessed the lives of a large extended family with many cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends who all had the good luck to have her in their lives. She is now united with son Nick Michael Hopkins and parents Don and Bettie Bradley.  Karen Lee Bradley was born on December 11, 1955, in Tacoma, Washington. As the oldest child, Karen spent much of her early years outdoors building treehouses, creating fairy gardens and generally trying to keep her three brothers out of too much trouble. After Washington, the family lived in Las Vegas before planting permanent roots in Brea, California.   From a young age, Karen loved to dance. From modern, to hula, to tap, she excelled at all. She continued dancing at Brea Olinda High School on both the dance and drill teams, and was a member of the homecoming court her senior year. She graduated high school in 1974 and would go on to build the rest of her beautiful life in Orange County.  Her inherent desire to help people and excellent work ethic manifested in some of her earliest jobs. Karen enjoyed working at Drum’s Drug Store, at JCPenney as a supervisor for the women’s fashion department, and especially at Cannings Hardware Store with her brother Claude.  Karen married David Hopkins in 1977 and brought three beautiful children into the world – Nick, Kirsten, and Natali. Karen was a constant nurturing presence in their lives and applied her trademark passion and energy to countless endeavors. She was team mom for their soccer and little league teams, led Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, and served as PTA president at Brea Junior High where she spearheaded the construction of the marquee that still stands today. Elementary and middle school teachers quickly grew to appreciate having the Hopkins children in their classes, because they knew Karen would participate as a class mom.  Karen’s loving nature was especially evident when her son Nick, fell ill with leukemia. Nick left an indelible impression on many family and friends, and ultimately passed at the too-young age of 20. Karen organized extensive fundraising campaigns for the Leukemia Society after Nick was diagnosed, just one more example of her big, beautiful heart.  After her daughters had grown and begun their own lives, Karen attended Cal State Fullerton where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in English and a special education teaching credential. Karen embarked on a teaching career dedicated to helping those who needed her most; as an educator with at-risk youth in rehab centers, juvenile detention centers, group homes, and later as a special needs teacher’s assistant with autistic children. She respected her students, no matter their circumstances, and they respected and trusted her in turn.  Karen began a new chapter in her already full life when she met Rick Balthaser in 2000. They moved to Trabuco Canyon and were married in 2007. Rick came with two stepsons, Zack and Tyler, and Karen Balthaser jokingly referred to herself as their“Wicked-Step-Mother.”  She fell in love with the beautiful and rural canyon life, and was welcomed with open arms into many organizations. She served as Secretary for ETI Corral 357, volunteered for O’Neill Park and Canyon Fire Watch, and served on the Fourth of July parade planning committee.  Karen, a lifelong animal lover, amassed a loving menagerie that includes horses Sunny and Stormy, dogs Lucy, Sam, and Toby, cats Duke and Daisy, a dozen-or-so chickens and Hunni-Bunni the rabbit.  Even with Karen’s many wonderful accomplishments, she would be the first to say that her proudest accomplishment was being “Grammy” to grandchildren Dillon, Lilly, and Gracie.  Words cannot convey what Karen means to those lucky enough to have her in their lives. She brought love, passion, enthusiasm, goodness, laughter, and a humble and quiet strength to everything she touched and every relationship she built. She will always be remembered in the families she created and brought together. She has gone too soon, and we will always miss her.  Please join us in celebrating Karen’s Amazing Big, Beautiful Life: Friday, July 22, 2016, 2:30 Memorial Service at Memory Garden Memorial Park, 455 W. Central Ave, Brea, California. Cool, colorful, or tropical attire welcome.  The Celebration will continue at the Circle S Ranch at 5:30, 16211 Jackson Rach Road, Silverado, California. Join us for a BBQ Dinner, opportunity to share memories, slide show, and live music. Please bring a memory and a dessert (optional) to share! Donations in Karen’s honor can be made to Make A Wish Foundation.  A link has been provided below.