Karen Cole's Obituary
Karen Cole passed away on February 8, 2025. Karen was born to Aphrodite and Costantine Kapsalis in Greektown, Detroit, on May 26, 1925. Her mother died of an accidental death at the age of twenty-five, leaving four children under the age of six years who were placed in foster care in Adair by the Children's Aid Society.
Karen graduated from St. Clair High School in the class of 1942. Her first employment was as a medical-surgical transcriptionist in the outpatient clinic in Grace Hospital in Detroit at the age of seventeen.
She and Robert S. Cole married and built their home in Algonac. She became the first woman Mayor of the City of Algonac in 1976. She was chosen Algonac Citizen of the Year in 2000. She retired from the Algonac Savings Bank as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. Karen served as a volunteer for the Blue Water Hospice, Algonac Schools, and River District Hospital. She served two decades as a member of the Board of Directors of St. Clair County Community Mental Health. She was also a member of the River District Hospital Board of Directors.
She was predeceased by her three siblings. Husband Robert S. Cole died in 1983. Son David S. Cole died in February 2016. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa M. Lewis, and her grandson Nicholas R. Lewis and a niece and nephews.
A Celebration of Karen's Life will be held on May 25, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Algonac Lions Hall, 1905 Mill St. Algonac, MI 48001. Cremation arrangements were entrusted to the Young Gilbert Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Algonac, MI.
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