Karen ‘Kit’ Henderson
8 July 1946 – 2 December 2025
Indianapolis, IN – Karen Henderson passed away at the age of 79.
Karen was raised in Lancaster, Ohio, just outside of Columbus.
Her father, Ricard ‘Ace’ Foreman (1922-2007) was a WWII Army Air Corps veteran and lifetime newspaper man (Eagle Gazette). He affectionately gave Karen her nickname ‘Kit’ when she was a child.
Kit was an intelligent child, with an IQ score high enough to qualify her for the Mensa Society. She passionately enjoyed reading and the consumption of news. A trait she undoubtedly inherited from her father.
Kit also dreamed of becoming a nurse and serving on a U.S. Navy Hospital Ship. Her strong love of America and Patriotism, again, undoubtedly, was instilled in her by her father, whom she deeply adored.
During her college years she went on a few dates, including with a popular quarterback who played football for The Ohio State University. However, she was swept off her feet by a small-town boy who had big time dreams.
William ‘Bill’ Henderson (1944-2024) was born in Middletown, Ohio. The son of a U.S. Army soldier that was killed in WWII and raised by a single mother with very modest upbringings.
Kit was awestruck by Bill’s positivity, charm, charisma, and good looks. Bill initially studied to be a doctor before taking flight training to be a pilot. He eventually had a career as a restaurateur and in real estate.
Bill and Kit married and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they created and ran several restaurants including ‘The Longhorn’ on the south side of Indianapolis and ‘Soup, Stew, Chili, and Brew’ in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
Kit was a nurse for nearly six decades, she selflessly helped people, particularly the elderly and sick. She worked in multiple nursing homes around the south side of Indianapolis, eventually becoming the Director of Nursing of St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove, Indiana.
Kit spent the rest of her nursing career working for Dr. Bruce Records, whom she revered, and she cherished his staff of nurses who became her good friends.
Kit is preceded in death by her father, husband, and mother, Anna ‘Betty’ Foreman (2011).
Kit will forever be loved by her children, Laura Casper (David) and Jonathan (Angela), and her beautiful grandchildren Christopher ‘Jake’ Casper, Nicholas ‘Colton’ Casper, and Claudia Casper.
There will be a private ceremony for immediate family members.
In lieu of flowers, the Henderson-Casper Family respectfully requests donations be made to The Indianapolis Franciscan Hospice House and/or Pancreatic Cancer Research.
Blessed are our nurses:
“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” — Proverbs 31:31.