Kathryn Emma Christen

Kathryn Emma Christen, (nee Fox), took her last breath on 25 August 2017. Kathryn was the widow of William “Bill” J. Christen III, who died in October 2000. They were married in 1945 shortly after he returned from service in the US Army during World War II. Ninety-six years old, Kathryn was born on 11 May 1921 in Toledo. She was the daughter of Ida Margaette Meyer and Harry Albert Fox. He brother, Harry (Bud) Fox died in 2004. Bill and Kathryn had four children: William (Glenna Jo) of Chelsea, Michigan; Cindy (Terry) Sauppe of Toledo; Jeff (Pat) Christen of Bowling Green; and Holly (David) Ditslear of Longmont, Colorado. There are nine grandchildren (Bill, Kim, Megan, Adrienne, Jason, Eric, Nicole, Erin and Joshua) and fifteen great-grandchildren (Ben, Zach, Maddy, Mia, Jack, Tyson, Sam, Audrey, Caleb, Cole, Claire, Grace, Abbie, William and Hunter) in her family who all meant so much to her, particularly in the seventeen years that she was a widow. One nephew, Phillip Fox, lives in Los Angeles, California. A surviving cousin, Connie Cowling (nee Lehman) lives in North Carolina. Kathryn was a lifelong Toledo resident who a fondly remembers cousins in Fulton County where some of her ancestors lived. She grew up in the neighborhood of Upton and Balkin Place. She survived having smallpox as a child and would tell stories of walking to Longfellow School Kathryn was a very active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, and as of the church’s one hundredth anniversary this year, she was the oldest current member. The Bethany community was a second family for her. After graduating from DeVilbiss High School she got a job at Lamson Brother department store in the credit department. After getting married she became a full-time mother. She returned to work part-time for the Arxon Company as a bookkeeper at their truck stop on Detroit Avenue a block from her home on California Boulevard where she could be home when her children returned from school. She eventually became the manager of both the company’s facilities, the other being at the I-280 Turnpike exchange. She never realized her dream of attending college, but became a successful business woman. She was an avid birdwatcher and enjoyed her garden at the family’s Royalton Road residence where she and her husband lived from the early 1960s. She and Bill were actively involved in the “Feed Your Neighbor” program hosted by Augsburg Lutheran Church after their retirement. For the last few years she enjoyed independent living at the West Park Place retirement community. Kathryn leaves behind a loving family who all have gained and learned so much from her. As all caregivers do, she demonstrated strength and compassion during her husband’s struggle with the severe impact of diabetes. She is the longest living ancestor of the family and a link among the three surviving generations. Friends are invited to visit on Monday from 3-8 p.m., in the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, (between Secor and Douglas Roads). Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, at 10:30 a.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church, 3274 Upton Avenue (at Marne). Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church.

Kathryn Emma Christen

May 11, 1921 - August 25, 2017