Karen Kirschenbauer Passes Away
Karen Kirschenbauer of Middleburg, VA, died peacefully in her sleep of a heart attack on Friday, May 6, 2005 at age 66. She was the daughter of Air Force General Henry Kristofferson, so the family moved frequently from Texas and California to Hawaii and finally to Saudi Arabia, where the General became Aviation Manager of Aramco.
Mrs. Kirschenbauer met her husband, George, while she was teaching school for American children in Wiesbaden, Germany, where George, a West Point graduate and then Army Lieutenant, was stationed. They married there in 1965 and subsequently had three sons. During his career, while attaining the rank of full Colonel, the Kirschenbauers moved 17 times, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, three years at West Point, as well as the Army War College in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. They retired to Middleburg 13 years ago where they have both been active politically and involved in preservation issues.
After their sons were grown, Mrs. Kirschenbauer, a charismatic, joyous lady with a keen sense of humor, decided to pursue a career in acting, which resulted in roles in many movies, including Sommersby, The Jackel and The Exorcist III. Television parts included Unsolved Mysteries and America's Most Wanted, as well as playing a role opposite Vanessa Redgrave in The Locket. Then commercial roles for industries such as Jamaica Tourism, Giant Foods, Tide Detergent, Fixodent, and Fosamax took her to many different filming locations. Noted for her lean, lanky figure, long gray hair and dazzling smile, Mrs. Kirschenbauer set an example for anyone interested in pursuing a career and achieving success regardless of age or experience. "Hard work, dedication and persistence do pay off," she said.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Colonel George Kirschenbauer; three sons, Kraig and his wife, Karen of South Riding, VA, Kevin and his wife, Amy of Clarke County, VA and their daughter, Heather and Kirk, who is being married to Marisa Yee on May 28 in California. She is also survived by two brothers, Kraig Kristofferson, V.P. of Coldwell Banker in California, and Kris Kristofferson, the musical icon of the 1970's, of Hawaii.
A celebration of Karen Kirschenbauer's incredibly full and joyous life will be held at the Kirschenbauer's home at 21951 Wainway Lane, Middleburg, VA, on Saturday, May 14, from 3 to 6 p.m. All of those who knew and loved her are invited to join in the celebration.