By
KAREN KAY STEPHAN
Born: May 9th, 1943
Died: July 1st, 2021
Location: E - 634 - 1
Obituary
MANSFIELD: Karen K. Stephan, 78, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon July 1, 2021 in OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
It is no coincidence that Karen, a steadfast patriot, passed on the cusp of our countries Independence Day. She dearly loved the American flag, what it stands for, and proudly wore her red, white and blue.
She was born May 9, 1943 in Mansfield to Harry Paul and Rudell (Myers) Criss, and graduated from Madison High School.
On January 6, 1968 she married John “Jack” Stephan, with whom she shared 40 years before he passed in July of 2008. Their love was the type that people noticed, and remembered, with a mutual infatuation, their marriage was one to behold. Jack doted on Karen, and she loved and respected him equally.
A lifelong area resident, Karen worked as an office manager at HearWright, retiring after 25 years.
Though Karen loved to read biographies and Nora Roberts romances, she was most happy “digging in the dirt.” Her flower gardens reflected her time and gifted green thumb and served as her own personal Kingwood. It was well known that Jack had to build a special room onto the house for her beloved houseplants. Knowledgeable, she could help anyone with just about any kind of plant or flower.
She was a huge Elvis fan and enjoyed Sylvester Stallone movies. Karen followed the Cleveland Indians attending games when she was able and listening to games on the radio. The beach was her happy place as Karen loved spending time with her family on outings to Put-in-Bay.
This vibrant firecracker will be dearly missed by her family which was so special to her. They hope you will remember her beautiful smile and find solace that she is reunited with her love Jack.
She is survived by their daughter Tina Shields and her fiancé GregBenepe of Mansfield, daughter and son-in-law Angie & Bryan Myers of Mansfield; grandchildren Brett Shields, Cheri Shields and Maci Myers; sister Susan (Kent) Gimbel of Galion; brother Harry Paul (Patricia) Criss of Indianapolis, IN; and nieces and nephews Holly, Erik, Christopher, Ryan and Greg.
In addition to Jack and her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law Russell Shields on December 12, 2005.
The Stephan Family will receive friends Tuesday, July 6, 2021 from 4-7 pm in the Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home, in honor of her patriotism and adoration for the flag, the family requests that guests don their red, white and blue. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 10:30 am, where The Rev. Faith Proietti will officiate. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, and planters the family requests memorial donations to your local Humane Society.
Condolences may be made to the Stephan Family online by visiting: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
KAREN KAY STEPHAN
Born: May 9th, 1943
Died: July 1st, 2021
Obituary
MANSFIELD: Karen K. Stephan, 78, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon July 1, 2021 in OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.
It is no coincidence that Karen, a steadfast patriot, passed on the cusp of our countries Independence Day. She dearly loved the American flag, what it stands for, and proudly wore her red, white and blue.
She was born May 9, 1943 in Mansfield to Harry Paul and Rudell (Myers) Criss, and graduated from Madison High School.
On January 6, 1968 she married John “Jack” Stephan, with whom she shared 40 years before he passed in July of 2008. Their love was the type that people noticed, and remembered, with a mutual infatuation, their marriage was one to behold. Jack doted on Karen, and she loved and respected him equally.
A lifelong area resident, Karen worked as an office manager at HearWright, retiring after 25 years.
Though Karen loved to read biographies and Nora Roberts romances, she was most happy “digging in the dirt.” Her flower gardens reflected her time and gifted green thumb and served as her own personal Kingwood. It was well known that Jack had to build a special room onto the house for her beloved houseplants. Knowledgeable, she could help anyone with just about any kind of plant or flower.
She was a huge Elvis fan and enjoyed Sylvester Stallone movies. Karen followed the Cleveland Indians attending games when she was able and listening to games on the radio. The beach was her happy place as Karen loved spending time with her family on outings to Put-in-Bay.
This vibrant firecracker will be dearly missed by her family which was so special to her. They hope you will remember her beautiful smile and find solace that she is reunited with her love Jack.
She is survived by their daughter Tina Shields and her fiancé GregBenepe of Mansfield, daughter and son-in-law Angie & Bryan Myers of Mansfield; grandchildren Brett Shields, Cheri Shields and Maci Myers; sister Susan (Kent) Gimbel of Galion; brother Harry Paul (Patricia) Criss of Indianapolis, IN; and nieces and nephews Holly, Erik, Christopher, Ryan and Greg.
In addition to Jack and her parents, she was preceded in death by her son-in-law Russell Shields on December 12, 2005.
The Stephan Family will receive friends Tuesday, July 6, 2021 from 4-7 pm in the Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home, in honor of her patriotism and adoration for the flag, the family requests that guests don their red, white and blue. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 10:30 am, where The Rev. Faith Proietti will officiate. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, and planters the family requests memorial donations to your local Humane Society.
Condolences may be made to the Stephan Family online by visiting: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com