Karen G. Moeller

Karen Moeller, Liberty Township

Karen (Fischer) Moeller, 65, was a dedicated teacher, loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was the most selfless person by continually putting others needs before her own. She brought a smile to everyones face that she encountered. Karen passed away June 18, 2011, at her home in Liberty Township.

Karen was a teacher for over 30 years. She spent 17 years at Adena Elementary (Lakota) and one year at Shawnee Elementary (Lakota) teaching 2 ^nd and 1 ^st grade. Students all loved and enjoyed having her as a teacher. When they would see her outside of school, they would yell, Mrs. Moeller and come running to give her a hug. Parents wanted their kids to get Mrs. Moeller in the classroom because of her positive and nurturing nature. One parent says of the gift she bought Karen for Christmas: gift card, $25, thank you card, $2.39, the educational foundation she has provided for the children, PRICELESS . Her co-workers loved her as a leader, advisor, and friend. They lovingly referred to her as mom at school.

Born February 15, 1946 to William and Althea Fischer in Elyria, OH, she was the elder of two children. Karen was very involved in school activities and clubs. She graduated from Elyria High School and earned a Bachelors degree from Otterbein College in Elementary Education in 1968.

She met her future husband, Steve Moeller on the campus of Otterbein and the couple wed August 19, 1967. They remained in Columbus where Karen had her first teaching job. In Columbus, Karen gave birth to her daughter, Katie (Treherne) in 1972. The family moved to Cincinnati where her son Kurt was born in 1974. After several stops around the country, moving for Steves basketball coaching career, the family ended up back in Cincinnati. Karen left an impression on people at every stop of her journey which included Houston, Texas, Austin, Texas, Bakersfield, California, Oxford Mississippi, and Akron, Ohio. Karen and Steve have resided in West Chester/Liberty Twp. since 1989. It had to be tough being married to a college basketball coach, but Karen raised both children (Katie and Kurt) and kept them involved in school activities, both graduated from Lakota. Throughout these hectic years, Karen supported her husband Steve and his career choice. She stayed home to raise the kids and returned to teaching once her children were school aged themselves.

Before she retired, Karen received the David Thiel Award. This award recognizes caring, kind, and giving community members in Lakota. The committee received so many nominations for Karen that it was a unanimous vote.

Karen was diagnosed with brain cancer in November of 2007. After the surgery, her long arduous journey began as she courageously fought this disease, battling radiation, chemotherapy infusions, and more radiotherapy. She never once complained, and was more worried about everyone else being okay . She never asked why me? She was a very strong and brave person. She passed away Saturday, June 18, 2011 at her home with her family at her side.

In addition to her husband, Steve Moeller, Karen is survived by her daughter Katie (Brett) Treherne (Liberty Township), son Kurt (Jennifer) Moeller (Cold Spring, KY), four grandchildren Paige and Greyson Treherne and Kasey and Mackenzie Moeller, her brother Mike Fischer (Grafton, OH), her niece Carrie (Joel) Horst, and a niece Jen (Ryan) Lewis.

Karen will be remembered for her compassionate attitude and gracious personality. Karen had only kind words for those she knew or met. Anyone who knows Karen or had the privilege to meet her, left with nothing but positive comments about her. A wise man once said, Its not the adversity in your life that defines you, its your reaction to adversity that does. If that is the case, her response to adversity was to be strong and stoic. She gave to her family, her school, and her community until she had nothing left to give. And she will be dearly missed by all who had the honor of knowing her.

A scholarship fund in Karen Moellers name has been set up. To make donations, please visit any 5/3 ^rd bank.