Information from:
FindAGrave.com
catesolnews.org
Rachel Grover
and Michigan University Press. Kareen was a wonderful publisher’s representative. Having been an ESL teacher herself at LAUSD, she truly understood teachers’ needs in the field and went out of her way to make sure they had all the materials and support they needed. Kareen was known for the wonderful book fairs she put on at various school campuses, where she always provided gourmet refreshments. That was the hostess side of Kareen—always making sure her “clients” or guests were taken care of. Kareen was so concerned about others that she chose not to share the pain of fighting cancer with them, so this news came as a big surprise to most. Kareen Kjelstrup passed away on June 10, 2015 in California at the age of 68 with friends and hospice by her side.
She enjoyed traveling and taking pictures in her spare time. She even took a trip to Norway to see her Aunt’s that spoke as much English and she did Norwegian. When I found the box of her keepsakes I knew I had to get these home. She never had any children but I was able to get in contact with her niece. Inside the box of her keepsakes were some of her personal pictures and letters from family, friends and trips overseas. What caught my eye was 2 old pictures taken in Norway in the earlier part of the 1900's. With names written on the back and a newspaper article attached I figured I could find someone they belonged to ( 2 Aunt’s and their husbands in Norway). Also, with these was a letter written to the town in Norway and the addresses of Kareen on the letter's, this
gave me hope. Rachel contacted me back the same day and I was able to return and get some more of Kareen's priceless keepsakes but not all. Though it breaks my heart I did
I think one of the things I enjoy about reuniting family keepsakes is learning about the person, their family and where they come from. Kareen Kjelstrup life story is an interesting one.
Her father Asbjorn Kjelstrup was born November 6, 1895 in Nord-Trøndelag fylke, Norway. In 1912 he immigrated to the United States where he met his wife, Agnes Olene Bardahl. They were married November 7, 1942. To this union 2 children were born: Kareen and Ann Marie Kjelstrup.
Kareen Kjelstrup was born May 27, 1947 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Kareen was baptized and confirmed at Erdahl Lutheran Church. She graduated from Elbow Lake High School and also the University of Minnesota.
Kareen moved to California where she was the senior western regional manager for Cambridge University Press. In addition to the 11 years she worked for Cambridge University Press, she also worked for other ESL publishers, including McGraw-Hill Contemporary, Oxford University Press,
not get all of them I was happy with what I was able to reunite with her niece Rachel. I also found a Valentines day card from Rachel from 1988 a few letters her and her sister wrote her, Kareen's baby picture and her actual social security card. I figured out she was a photograpber as well. There were some of her large negatives and 2 newspaper articles with her pictures published. Plus quite a few other keepsakes. I know these will be cherished by Rachel and her family.