Karen Augusta Louie Korst Hawkins

Karen Augusta Louie “Tootsie” Korst Hawkins, 62, of Fort Wayne, IN, died at Bethlehem Woods Nursing home on Saturday, September 25, 2021.

Karen was born to the late Charles Korst, Sr. and Margaret (Eakin) Herman on August 13, 1959, in Joliet, IL. She graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School. She was assistant manager at Frank’s Nursery & Crafts, and later was a landscape designer at Broadview Florist & Greenhouse, where she designed the Josephine Longfellow Diver Perennial Garden at Foster Park. She owned and operated a candle and soap-making business, “Tootsie’s Candles”, and was a long time Avon representative.  She was an excellent cook and volunteered at a local women’s shelter, cooking delicious meals for the residents. She taught craft classes, as well as candle and soap-making classes, for various local non-profit groups. She played the violin and viola. She enjoyed arts and crafts, painting with watercolors, gardening, fishing, aquariums, cooking, and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband of 20 years, Terry Hawkins; her sisters, Susan Korst, Meg (Tommy) Kohl, Mary (Larry) True, Dorothy Hagan; her brothers, Charles (Deb) Korst Jr. of Roanoke, IN, and Patrick Korst of Phoenix, AZ; many nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be 1:30 pm Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Ft. Wayne, IN with calling one hour prior.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Catholic Church, Fort Wayne, or to the family.