Honored by Beth, Roy, Ian, Derek, and Megan Lubetkin with love and heartfelt thanks for all she has done for our family.
Karin McMurchy was born in 1928 in Keewatin, ON, the eldest of three daughters of Andrew Olger Eugene Olson and Agnes May Stewart Olson. As a teenager, and every summer until she was married, Karin worked in her father’s grocery store. A very good student, Karin decided to become a teacher. Upon graduating from high school in 1946, she made the long train trip east to attend North Bay Normal School.
It was in North Bay that she met her future husband, Don McMurchy, shortly before he entered medical school. After Normal School, Karin taught grades two and three in Callander, Ontario for two years where she also volunteered as a Brownie leader. She left Callander to attend Queen’s University for one year to receive her advanced teaching credentials. She subsequently moved to Ottawa where she taught grade one. Don and Karin were married in 1951, and Karin continued teaching in Ottawa while Don finished medical school. The young couple next moved to Winnipeg for a year where Karin taught at River Heights School and Don interned at Deer Lodge, a military hospital. They then settled in Wingham, ON where Don joined a medical practice. Karin stayed home with their son Donald and daughter Beth and volunteered as a CGIT leader. In 1959 they returned to North Bay where their daughter Susan was born and where Don became a much respected member of the medical community.
Throughout her many decades in North Bay, Karin has focused her talents on raising her three children, working part-time in Don’s medical practice, and doing community work for such organizations as the Esperanza Club, the Medical Wives Association, the North Bay and Area Museum, and St. Andrew’s United Church. Most notably, Karin has been a long-time member of the North Bay and District Canadian Club, serving in many capacities locally, regionally and nationally. In addition to being Vice-President, President, Past-President, Speakers Convener and Archivist of the North Bay club, Karin was a Regional Director of the National Association and on the National Executive. Karin and her good friend Jessie Banks spent 23 years working together planning, organizing and leading countless Canadian Club trips throughout Canada and the US.
Although she suffered the unexpected and devastating loss of her beloved husband in 1984, Karin has maintained a very busy life volunteering, travelling, and spending time with her children, their spouses, and her nine grandchildren in Canada and the US. She is a life-long learner, accomplished photographer, and skilled computer user who combines these latter two talents to create beautiful cards for her family and friends, as well as for sale as fundraisers for local non-profit organizations.
She is currently a member of Living Fit, continues to enjoy travelling, and stays active with her many friends. Karin also volunteers at the Heritage Railway and Carousel Company where her now-grown grandchildren never tire of visiting to take a ride with their much loved Grandma Murch. Karin is truly an inspiration and a role-model for our family.