Karel Marie Birdsall entered this life on 13 April 1917 in Loveland, Colorado and passed away peacefully on 11 October 2021 at Orchard House in Mt. Angel, Oregon after living a rich and full life.  She grew up in Greeley, Colorado and attended beauty college then left Colorado to start a new life in Los Angeles, California where she opened her own beauty shop.  In 1944, while attending a USO event at the Hollywood Palladium, she was swept off her feet by Bill Birdsall as they danced the night away to the Glen Miller Band.  It was love at first sight.  They were married four months later and established a home in Seattle, Washington. They then bought property in Kirkland, Washington, where Bill built a house for them and where they lived for over 60 years. They recently celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary.  Karel is survived by her two daughters, Charlie (Charlene) Hakola and Jackie (Jaclyn) LaRue as well as four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Karel was passionate about her home and her beautiful yard, where she tended many beautiful plants and flowers.  She was an accomplished seamstress and made most of her and Bill's matching square dancing ensembles, embellished sweatshirts (which she also sold to others), plus many other sewing projects. She and Bill loved their square dancing, especially the trips they took with their square dance club, Boots and Laces, all over the U.S. and even the Cayman Islands, where they danced in Hell!  She was also active in the Kirkland Senior Center and assisted Bill in presenting slide shows of the pictures that he took on their many trips.  She was a loving and attentive mother and grandmother.  She loved children and ran a school lunch program for many years at Thoreau Elementary School while her children were growing up.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Birdsall, on 5 September 2021.  Per her wishes, a private memorial service has been planned for her and Bill.

She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.