Team Members
The KAREfarm team is a group of volunteers that took their worst nightmare and channeled into an opportunity to serve others. KAREfarm could not do what we do without their time, dedication, and empathy for others. Check out their stories and what drove them to volunteer at KAREfarm.
Team Members
The KAREfarm team is a group of volunteers that took their worst nightmare and channeled into an opportunity to serve others. KAREfarm could not do what we do without their time, dedication, and empathy for others. Check out their stories and what drove them to volunteer at KAREfarm.
Joe & Kim Buchert
Hi! This is Kim and Joe. We have 3 wonderful children, Christopher, Carrie and Michael. Michael (our youngest) helps out at KAREfarm as well and plays the bagpipes at our events. Carrie is our middle child. Carrie and her husband, Chad, have a beautiful little girl. Christopher is our oldest child. He led us to KAREfarm. Christopher passed away by suicide in July 2016 at the age of 26. There were no warning signs, so the shock of his passing, rocked our world in ways we can’t describe. The grief was crippling.
Shortly after Christopher’s passing, I (Kim) became sole caregiver for my mom who as the result of the trauma of losing her oldest grandchild started with dementia. We put our grief journey on pause for 2.5 years to focus on mom’s care. After mom passed away in 2019, we were exhausted and needed to focus on our journey.
We found KAREfarm through a news segment on a local TV station. Looking to take care of ourselves, we were searching for resources for our family. After attending our first retreat in April 2022 (Child Loss) as guests, we felt such a peace and comfort at the farm sharing with others who understood where we were at and didn’t judge us for any thoughts or feelings we had. Finding a place in nature away from the everyday world has been a huge help and the KAREfarm team has been an amazing source of support. The farm felt like an awesome fit for us…. camping and nature!!
Each day is different… some easier than others. But, we’re walking along our grief journey with love, support and self-care! Thank you KAREfarm for helping us!!
Joe & Kim Buchert
Hi! This is Kim and Joe. We have 3 wonderful children, Christopher, Carrie and Michael. Michael (our youngest) helps out at KAREfarm as well and plays the bagpipes at our events. Carrie is our middle child. Carrie and her husband, Chad, have a beautiful little girl. Christopher is our oldest child. He led us to KAREfarm. Christopher passed away by suicide in July 2016 at the age of 26. There were no warning signs, so the shock of his passing, rocked our world in ways we can’t describe. The grief was crippling.
Shortly after Christopher’s passing, I (Kim) became sole caregiver for my mom who as the result of the trauma of losing her oldest grandchild started with dementia. We put our grief journey on pause for 2.5 years to focus on mom’s care. After mom passed away in 2019, we were exhausted and needed to focus on our journey.
We found KAREfarm through a news segment on a local TV station. Looking to take care of ourselves, we were searching for resources for our family. After attending our first retreat in April 2022 (Child Loss) as guests, we felt such a peace and comfort at the farm sharing with others who understood where we were at and didn’t judge us for any thoughts or feelings we had. Finding a place in nature away from the everyday world has been a huge help and the KAREfarm team has been an amazing source of support. The farm felt like an awesome fit for us…. camping and nature!!
Each day is different… some easier than others. But, we’re walking along our grief journey with love, support and self-care! Thank you KAREfarm for helping us!!
Katelyn Bachmann
Hi! I’m Katelyn. My dad, Kirk, died suddenly when I was 27. He was one of my best friends and in his absence is a void so unique, I’ve never quite been able to put it into words. The early days of my grief were a little spacey, the early weeks were almost intolerable, and in the early months I was grasping for anything to help. I found KAREfarm Co-founder, Mike’s, business card at a local coffee shop just a couple months after Dad died. Something clicked. Mom and I were on a retreat just a couple months after that, and I joined the KAREfarm team as the fundraising coordinator just a few months after our retreat! Serving others through KAREfarm became an outlet, and a new way I could grow with my grief. While I miss my dad every day, I feel incredibly grateful for the gifts he left me in his wake. KAREfarm is one of those precious gifts.
Alex Bockweg
I was born and raised in the Northern Kentucky area. My father passed away from early onset Lewey Body Dementia in 2018 when I was a student at the University of Cincinnati. It was so tough to see him grow sicker and sicker, slowly losing his memory and who he was as a person. A year and a half later, my dear grandfather got diagnosed and passed away from a brain tumor, all within 5 months. My sister and I were my grandparents only grandchildren and we were extremely close. Finally, my Aunt, my father’s sister, passed away from Alzehimer’s this past December. I am so lucky that my relatives are close family friends with the KAREfarm founders. To me, KAREfarm is the most beautiful example of people taking the pain in their lives and turning it into something healing and helpful for others.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Karen Ruf
Karen Ruf loved being a boy-mom and raising two boys that were 2 years apart. In 2016, tragedy struck when the younger of the two, JC, took his life at the age of 16. With no prior known mental health issues or glaring red flags, this was a huge shock to the family. During the early times of grief, in addition to the excruciating pain of losing a child, there was so much guilt for not knowing his struggles and questioning “why???” In search for tools to help navigate grief, Karen was introduced to KAREfarm. The idea of being in nature, away from the “normal” world, and to be with others who understand the pain of grief was a huge step in healing. Immediately after attending the retreat, she joined the ranks as a volunteer and her healing story continues as the volunteer coordinator and retreat facilitator.
Anette Stewart
I am Anette Stewart. My dad passed away over 50 years ago from a long term illness when I was 11. I have very few memories of my dad other than his illness. The most significant memory I have is that even though he was very ill for the short time I knew him, he was determined to live life to fullest (i.e. having 5 children in 13 years, never forgoing a vacation with his children, celebrating his children’s and my mom’s significant life events). In the early 2000’s I became friends with the KAREfarm co-founders, prior to their loss. At the time of their loss understanding what they needed from others in their life was something I was not equipped to understand. When they started KAREfarm in 2019, I knew it was something I wanted to involved in. KAREfarm provides a safe place for people experiencing grief to heal with the assistance of others that have been through similar journeys. At KAREfarm I manage financials and ensuring the farm has what it needs for a retreat.
Lisa Bockweg
Grief has given me many painful memories and heartaches….but, surprisingly, has also given me many gifts. One of my first significant experiences with grief happened 14 years ago, when a sorority sister passed away from a long battle with cancer. However, a year before she died, she invited me and a few others to help her form a bible study – that was an unexpected gift that fueled my desire to learn more about my faith and relationship with God that I still hold onto today. In 2020, my Dad passed away after 10 months of grueling dialysis. During that time, I received the beautiful gift of time and humble service to a man that has served me his entire life.
Seven years ago, my sweet and beautiful niece, Katie, died tragically in a hiking accident. I felt frozen and helpless, trying to figure out how to support my sister and family during this impossible time, not really able to focus on my own grief. From this immense pain, my sister, Stephanie and Mike, along with other beautiful people who had experienced unthinkable loss, were able to take that loss and turn it into inspiration to create a place where anyone who suffers a loss can connect with others in God’s creation. In turn, I was blessed with the beautiful gift of KAREfarm, and could begin my own grief journey. Even though grief feels like it takes away so much, I have experienced blessings from ashes. I am blessed to be part of a beautiful family and friends that make up the KAREfarm community and love to volunteer in any way I can.
Diane Bass
I have been a part of KAREfarm since the very beginning. It was still an idea being thought out in Mike and Steph’s basement. I was so inspired to see Steph, Mike and Krista take such tragic losses and try to help other through their own grief.
In the beginning My husband Al and I were mostly involved in getting the farm ready, as we put it we were worker bees. It has just been in the last year that we have become more involved in the retreats as part of the KAREfarm team.
Through this whole journey I have come to realize I needed KAREfarm. It has helped me deal with my own grief experience. I lost my Mom to breast cancer, she was only 60 years old when she lost her battle. I lost my Dad to brain cancer. He was diagnosed in Feb. and lost his battle to this terrible disease in July. I lost both parents before the age of 50. I am also a better support person to my friends who have suffered very tragic losses all thanks to the wonderful people of KAREfarm.
John Roberto
I first came to be involved with KAREfarm years ago when I helped guide the core team to focus on their vision and direction forward over the next years for KAREfarm. As I worked closely with the team, I developed a deep respect for how this group had taken the deep loss of their loved ones and chose to focus so much love and energy on gently helping others going through similar losses to find healing. I’m proud to be part of the KAREfarm family.
Ann Helfrich
On September 16, 2004, the course of Ann and her family’s life was irreparably changed. What they knew was burned to the ground and all they could see was the smoke of loss and the smell of burnt dreams. On that day, their only son Joshua was hit by a car in the street around the corner from their house. They were those parents that were vigilant about safety- Josh never rode his bike without a helmet. They learned on that day that a plastic helmet was not a match for a distracted driver and the collision with Josh’s bike.
In the following days it was impossible to feel anything but the depth of loss, and hope and dreams seemed entirely out of reach. Ann went through the stages of anger, bargaining, guilt about not protecting their child and yearned for a chance to change that split second that took Joshua to the other side. The family of four became the family of three and Josh’s twin sister would now spend the rest of her life as an only child. At 10 years old she learned that life is fragile, and to get the most out of life, love deeply, and treat others kindly because tomorrow is not a given.
Ann was blessed by a faith and work community that surrounded her family with love and protected them in a cocoon of healing. Without her Faith and that community, she would not be where she is today- filled with hope, joy and realizing dreams as she passes each day until she is reunited with Josh.
Ann was blessed by a charity established in Josh’s memory called ‘Josh Cares,’ which was in keeping with Josh’s generous love for others. Josh Cares provided companionship for children hospitalized and without regular family support at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center by providing child-life specialists who were charged with being there to care for these children. Being a part of that organization taught Ann that giving your heart a tangible way to heal helped tremendously with her healing journey (and she cherished that she was always introduced as ‘Josh’s mom’).
She is so blessed to be part of the KAREfarm team and to share what she learned from Josh Cares and pay it forward to help others find healing and live again after a devastating loss.
Katelyn Bachmann
Hi! I’m Katelyn. My dad, Kirk, died suddenly when I was 27. He was one of my best friends and in his absence is a void so unique, I’ve never quite been able to put it into words. The early days of my grief were a little spacey, the early weeks were almost intolerable, and in the early months I was grasping for anything to help. I found KAREfarm Co-founder, Mike’s, business card at a local coffee shop just a couple months after Dad died. Something clicked. Mom and I were on a retreat just a couple months after that, and I joined the KAREfarm team as the fundraising coordinator just a few months after our retreat! Serving others through KAREfarm became an outlet, and a new way I could grow with my grief. While I miss my dad every day, I feel incredibly grateful for the gifts he left me in his wake. KAREfarm is one of those precious gifts.
Alex Bockweg
I was born and raised in the Northern Kentucky area. My father passed away from early onset Lewey Body Dementia in 2018 when I was a student at the University of Cincinnati. It was so tough to see him grow sicker and sicker, slowly losing his memory and who he was as a person. A year and a half later, my dear grandfather got diagnosed and passed away from a brain tumor, all within 5 months. My sister and I were my grandparents only grandchildren and we were extremely close. Finally, my Aunt, my father’s sister, passed away from Alzehimer’s this past December. I am so lucky that my relatives are close family friends with the KAREfarm founders. To me, KAREfarm is the most beautiful example of people taking the pain in their lives and turning it into something healing and helpful for others.
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Karen Ruf
Karen Ruf loved being a boy-mom and raising two boys that were 2 years apart. In 2016, tragedy struck when the younger of the two, JC, took his life at the age of 16. With no prior known mental health issues or glaring red flags, this was a huge shock to the family. During the early times of grief, in addition to the excruciating pain of losing a child, there was so much guilt for not knowing his struggles and questioning “why???” In search for tools to help navigate grief, Karen was introduced to KAREfarm. The idea of being in nature, away from the “normal” world, and to be with others who understand the pain of grief was a huge step in healing. Immediately after attending the retreat, she joined the ranks as a volunteer and her healing story continues as the volunteer coordinator and retreat facilitator.
Anette Stewart
I am Anette Stewart. My dad passed away over 50 years ago from a long term illness when I was 11. I have very few memories of my dad other than his illness. The most significant memory I have is that even though he was very ill for the short time I knew him, he was determined to live life to fullest (i.e. having 5 children in 13 years, never forgoing a vacation with his children, celebrating his children’s and my mom’s significant life events). In the early 2000’s I became friends with the KAREfarm co-founders, prior to their loss. At the time of their loss understanding what they needed from others in their life was something I was not equipped to understand. When they started KAREfarm in 2019, I knew it was something I wanted to involved in. KAREfarm provides a safe place for people experiencing grief to heal with the assistance of others that have been through similar journeys. At KAREfarm I manage financials and ensuring the farm has what it needs for a retreat.
Lisa Bockweg
Grief has given me many painful memories and heartaches….but, surprisingly, has also given me many gifts. One of my first significant experiences with grief happened 14 years ago, when a sorority sister passed away from a long battle with cancer. However, a year before she died, she invited me and a few others to help her form a bible study – that was an unexpected gift that fueled my desire to learn more about my faith and relationship with God that I still hold onto today. In 2020, my Dad passed away after 10 months of grueling dialysis. During that time, I received the beautiful gift of time and humble service to a man that has served me his entire life.
Seven years ago, my sweet and beautiful niece, Katie, died tragically in a hiking accident. I felt frozen and helpless, trying to figure out how to support my sister and family during this impossible time, not really able to focus on my own grief. From this immense pain, my sister, Stephanie and Mike, along with other beautiful people who had experienced unthinkable loss, were able to take that loss and turn it into inspiration to create a place where anyone who suffers a loss can connect with others in God’s creation. In turn, I was blessed with the beautiful gift of KAREfarm, and could begin my own grief journey. Even though grief feels like it takes away so much, I have experienced blessings from ashes. I am blessed to be part of a beautiful family and friends that make up the KAREfarm community and love to volunteer in any way I can.
Diane Bass
I have been a part of KAREfarm since the very beginning. It was still an idea being thought out in Mike and Steph’s basement. I was so inspired to see Steph, Mike and Krista take such tragic losses and try to help other through their own grief.
In the beginning My husband Al and I were mostly involved in getting the farm ready, as we put it we were worker bees. It has just been in the last year that we have become more involved in the retreats as part of the KAREfarm team.
Through this whole journey I have come to realize I needed KAREfarm. It has helped me deal with my own grief experience. I lost my Mom to breast cancer, she was only 60 years old when she lost her battle. I lost my Dad to brain cancer. He was diagnosed in Feb. and lost his battle to this terrible disease in July. I lost both parents before the age of 50. I am also a better support person to my friends who have suffered very tragic losses all thanks to the wonderful people of KAREfarm.
John Roberto
I first came to be involved with KAREfarm years ago when I helped guide the core team to focus on their vision and direction forward over the next years for KAREfarm. As I worked closely with the team, I developed a deep respect for how this group had taken the deep loss of their loved ones and chose to focus so much love and energy on gently helping others going through similar losses to find healing. I’m proud to be part of the KAREfarm family.
Ann Helfrich
On September 16, 2004, the course of Ann and her family’s life was irreparably changed. What they knew was burned to the ground and all they could see was the smoke of loss and the smell of burnt dreams. On that day, their only son Joshua was hit by a car in the street around the corner from their house. They were those parents that were vigilant about safety- Josh never rode his bike without a helmet. They learned on that day that a plastic helmet was not a match for a distracted driver and the collision with Josh’s bike.
In the following days it was impossible to feel anything but the depth of loss, and hope and dreams seemed entirely out of reach. Ann went through the stages of anger, bargaining, guilt about not protecting their child and yearned for a chance to change that split second that took Joshua to the other side. The family of four became the family of three and Josh’s twin sister would now spend the rest of her life as an only child. At 10 years old she learned that life is fragile, and to get the most out of life, love deeply, and treat others kindly because tomorrow is not a given.
Ann was blessed by a faith and work community that surrounded her family with love and protected them in a cocoon of healing. Without her Faith and that community, she would not be where she is today- filled with hope, joy and realizing dreams as she passes each day until she is reunited with Josh.
Ann was blessed by a charity established in Josh’s memory called ‘Josh Cares,’ which was in keeping with Josh’s generous love for others. Josh Cares provided companionship for children hospitalized and without regular family support at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center by providing child-life specialists who were charged with being there to care for these children. Being a part of that organization taught Ann that giving your heart a tangible way to heal helped tremendously with her healing journey (and she cherished that she was always introduced as ‘Josh’s mom’).
She is so blessed to be part of the KAREfarm team and to share what she learned from Josh Cares and pay it forward to help others find healing and live again after a devastating loss.