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Karen Rueter Nagel died peacefully at home on June 6, 2024, surrounded by family, at age 77. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Karen studied history at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. Karen met her husband, H. Robert Nagel (deceased in 2000), at SMU and moved to the Baltimore area, where she earned her PhD in Human Growth and Development from the University of Maryland. Karen was a schoolteacher in Baltimore before becoming a mother and homemaker. Karen lived in Ridgefield, Connecticut, before moving to the Main Line in 1986. She went on to become an accomplished architectural historian, a profession that stemmed from her interest in research and old houses. Over the past 30 years, Karen was an instrumental preservationist who created historic districts, national trust nominations, and countless dossiers of historic houses throughout the Main Line. She helped create the Avon Colorado Historic Commission and was a founding member of the Lower Merion Preservation Trust (now the Lower Merion Conservancy). She received a Preservation Award from the Historic Architectural Review Board of Lower Merion Township for various buildings and efforts supporting preservation. Among the historic properties that Karen helped save was the Gerhard Building of Bryn Mawr Hospital, designed by Frank Furness. Karen enjoyed spending winters and summers in Beaver Creek, Colorado. She was also an avid world traveler with her sister, Melanie. As a patron of the arts and history enthusiast, Karen was a board member of the Philadelphia Ballet, Appleford Estate, the Lower Merion Conservancy, and the Lower Merion Historical Commission. In addition, Karen was highly involved with a number of organizations, including The Metropolitan Opera, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Junior League of Philadelphia, The Merion Cricket Club, The Acorn Club, The Beaver Creek Club, The Gardeners, The Franklin Institute, The Philadelphia (Antiques) Show, The Philadelphia Flower Show, the Lower Merion Historical Society, the Avon Historical Society, and The Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Karen worshiped at the Church of the Redeemer, where she taught Sunday School for many years. Karen is survived by her husband, R. Stephen Kamp; daughter, Jennifer Nagel Suttmeier (Stephen); son, Alexander Rueter Nagel (Arielle); grandchildren, Emily Gretchen and Robert Henry Suttmeier; and sister, Melanie Rueter Newbill. Karen’s family and friends will celebrate her life with a memorial service at The Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA, on Thursday, June 13, at 11:00 AM, 230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA. A reception will follow at Karen’s home. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be streamed live online. Livestream: https://www.theredeemer.org/livestreams In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Philadelphia Ballet, The Church of the Redeemer, and the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research – Cardiovascular. Donations: https://philadelphiaballet.org/support/ https://www.theredeemer.org/give https://giving.mainlinehealth.org/ways-to-give/lankenau-institute-for-medical-research Directions/Parking: https://www.theredeemer.org/directions

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Karen Rueter Nagel

August 18, 1946 - June 6, 2024