Rev Dr. Karen Jane (Hassinger) Church

Bellevue resident Rev. Dr. Karen Jane (Hassinger) Church, 70, died on Friday, September 5, 2008 as the result of an automobile accident. She was born on October 18, 1937 in Bellevue to the now deceased Rollin Grant and Gretchen (Hunt) Hassinger. In 1962, she was united in marriage with Rev. Dr. Robert Bruce Church at Seybert Church, Bellevue. Robert passed away in 2000.

Karen was a graduate of Bellevue High School. She received her Bachelors Degree from Lake Erie College and her Masters Degree in religious education from Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. She was an accomplished pianist and music teacher and often acted as accompanist for schools, churches and theaters in Genoa, Tiffin, Bellevue, and Fremont. She also taught music class at the Community Christian Academy in Genoa.

Karens faith in God was the center of her life; she attended Worship Alive Church in Bellevue and was a long-time member of a ladies prayer group. She served as interim minister at various churches and was a Republican Precinct Adjudicator.

Surviving Karen are her children, Mavis (William) Kramer of Aurora, Dalva Church of Tiffin, Cammy Church of Genoa, Ben (Monica) Church of Genoa, Joanna Church of Cleveland Heights; brother-in-law, Edward Church; 11 grandchildren, Brendan Church, Garrett Huth, Heidi Fearing, Bridgette Hawks, Brianna Huth, Caitlyn Church, Kariah Church, Alexis DeLeon, Benjamin Church, Robert Fearing, and Samuel Church; step- grandchildren, Cory Kramer and Jason Kramer, and great-grandchild, Trinity Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Robert Hassinger.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. with an additional visitation starting one hour prior to the services on Wednesday, September 10, at St. Jacobs United Church of Christ, corner of CR 38 & CR43 in Republic. Visitation will be on Tuesday, September 9 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Herman-Kinn-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fremont.

Memorials may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, Gideons, or Feed the Children in honor of Karen.