Obituary of Karen Kessler Blasche
An original Jamestown descendent. Karen began her life in Washington, DC, welcomed there by Jules and Vera Kessler. A precocious child, she was active in sports that included softball and golfing. She attended Beaumont HS in St Louis and S.E Missouri State College in Cape Girardo. In 1968, Karen moved to Hawaii where she met then First Lieutenant Ted Blasche on a blind date. They were married in March of the next year, and recently celebrated fifty years of life together.
Karen's accomplishments exceed the limits of this obituary. While in Kentucky, her love of horses afforded her a personal invitation to Clayborne Farms where she met and touched both Riva Ridge and Secretariat. As an officer's wife, during this same period, she received multiple awards and accolades for her charity work. Accompanying her husband to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point she was active in the university's environmental programs, a passion that continued for the rest of her life. A love of dogs, especially the Pointer breed, led her to become active in the American Pointer Club. There she served several terms as secretary and board member. Eventually nominated for the APC positions of historian and statistician, she became the club's longest serving officer, holding those positions for over three decades.
Karen's work history is as varied as her interests. Ted's assignments kept her in transition. Secretary in Chicago, Librarian at Fort Knox, Proof reader and editor at Fort Dix, Customer Fulfillment at Norm Thompson and Good Catalog Company in Oregon, are but a few.
Karen is survived by her husband Ted, Sister in Law Donna Kessler, Aunt Jayne Kessler Cousins Claire Wood, Sharon Kessler, Joan Grossmann, Barb Warneke, Mimi Hammack, Susan Kessler, Marilyn Paine and nephews/nieces too many to number.
Preceding her in death are parents, Jules and Vera Kessler, and her brother Douglas Kessler.
A service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery on Friday, August 2nd at 2:00pm.
Karen's expressed wishes give a true insight into her as a human being.
"Should anyone kindly feel the need to send flowers or some other means of connection, please don’t. I would be much happier knowing that if you wanted to plant a flower or bush or something you like and think of me when you see it, that would be wonderful. And should the spirit move you to make a donation somewhere, please make it a favorite charity of yours. No pressure to do any of those things, just if you want to. I’d be honored."