Karen (Leitch) Munk

Karen J. Munk   March 4, 1946 – January 21, 2026

Karen J. Munk, 79, of Kendallville, Indiana, passed away on January 21, 2026. Born on March 4, 1946, in Kendallville to Don and Betty (Pontius) Leitch, Karen was a life-long resident and an extraordinary woman who wove herself into the very fabric of her community. She graduated from Kendallville High School in 1964 and graduated from the Purdue University School of Nursing in 1981.

On June 10, 1967, she married the love of her life, Craig Munk. Together, they built a life defined by family, community, and the arts. Karen is survived by her husband, Craig, and her daughter, Aren (Steve) Straiger of Carmel, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter Tiffany Munk.

A Life of Service and Care

Karen was a dedicated nurse who touched many lives during her career at McCray Memorial Hospital, Parkview Hospital Fort Wayne, and the Fort Wayne Ophthalmic Surgery Center. Her commitment to others extended into her volunteer work; she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a former member of Tri Kappa, Gamma Xi Chapter of Kendallville.

A Legacy in the Arts

Beyond her nursing career, Karen was a visionary artist. For more than four decades, she served as the Assistant Director of East Noble Theatre alongside her husband, Craig. Her stunning, hand-crafted costumes brought hundreds of musical productions to life on the Munk Stage. She also shared her leadership as the director of the award-winning East Noble Knightettes from 1968 to 1980. In recognition of her immense impact on students and the community, Karen was honored upon her retirement with the Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest honorary distinction as well as being recognized nationally on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda.

Her love for sewing was legendary—it was often said there was nothing she couldn’t sew. In March 1989, she realized a lifelong dream by opening Special Moments, a bridal and formal wear store in downtown Kendallville.

Community and Pageantry

Karen’s influence stretched across her 50-plus years of volunteering with the Miss America Organization. Since 1983, she served on the Board of Directors for the Miss Indiana Scholarship Organization and acted as the pageant’s Associate Producer. One of her greatest joys was designing and creating exquisite gowns seen on stage and the creative themed costumes for the Miss America Boardwalk Parade.

She was also a founding board member of Gaslight Playhouse, serving on its Board of Directors for 50 years, being seen both on stage and behind the scenes. Most recently, she lent her talents to the costuming of Gaslight’s 50th Anniversary production of Big Fish. Karen loved the theatre and cherished her many trips to NYC to visit former students and catch a Broadway show or two. Her passing will leave a void in the hearts of so many but her legacy will live on through the countless lives she has impacted over the years.

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Service Information

Viewing: Monday, January 26 from 3:00–8:00PM and Tuesday, January 27 from 10:00AM –12:00PM at the AM Strauss Theatre for the Performing Arts located inside the Kendallville Community Learning Center, 401 E. Diamond St., Kendallville, IN 46755

Funeral Services: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 12:00PM in the AM Strauss Theatre in the Kendallville Community Learning Center. Visitors will enter through Door 5.

Memorial Donations: In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to:

• The Kendallville Community Learning Center Performing Arts Committee

• The Indiana Educational Scholarship Fund—Miss Indiana Scholarship Organization, http://donate.missindiana.org

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