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 | Karen E. Hahn December 28, 1946 – June 1, 2012 services directed by Jolliffe Funeral Home |
| Karen E. Hahn, 65, of Scottsbluff, died Friday, June 1, 2012, at Regional West Medical Center. Her funeral services were June 8 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff, with Rev. Dr. Brad Brauer officiating. Her remains were cremated as she wished. Memorials may be made to Calvary Lutheran Church or to the Western Nebraska Community College Scholarship Fund. Online condolences may be left for family at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com. Karen was born Dec. 28, 1946, in Sterling, Colo. to Karl and Elizabeth Asp, who were living in Holyoke, Colo. at the time. In her early childhood, the family moved to Scottsbluff where Karl purchased a dry cleaning business. Karen worked along with her father as a young person. She attended elementary and middle schools here and graduated from Scottsbluff in 1964. She attended Nebraska Western College (now WNCC) for two years, and earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins in 1968 with degrees in education and science, in all phases, with academic honors. About CSU, she never tired of telling the story about her ambition of becoming a veterinarian but in those days females were not invited into that profession. Before putting her education to use, she detoured into an adventure with Pan American Airlines. After completing training in the PanAm flight school in Miami, Fla., she took a job as a flight crew purser and established her base out of New York City. At that time, PanAm only flew international routes, including Europe, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Karen’s work took her to every continent in the world, except the poles. One of her memories was President Nixon’s around-the-world tour in 1969, a one-month excursion to far off places. On a visit to her parents in Scottsbluff in 1971, Karen met Roy and they were married on Dec. 11. Scottsbluff remained the home for Karen and Roy ever since. This loving relationship counts as one its fondest memories the sharing of the Sioux County vacation property-a respite home away from home. Karen struggled with a multi-year involvement with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Each year during the past 10, the disease intensified until it reached the point Karen could no longer pursue her many interests, including her bookkeeping for Banner Drilling; teaching in the local schools, and later substituting at all levels (many former students will remember “Mrs. Hahn” as the person who would brook no nonsense in the classroom but strive to accentuate the education program at hand). Owning and operating a title agency, about which she was proud to have built into a business that had the reputation for detail - “so the customers would get what they paid for,” she liked to say. After her health deteriorated, Karen adapted to whatever there was and made the best of it. Karen expressed her gratitude for the medical help she received. Important to Karen, which formed her person was her Christian faith; her love for Roy; her caring for anyone who demonstrated compassion for others; her striving to do good and be productive; and her desire to live a just and moral life. All of this was possible because of her Faith. Faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; in the good that all people have no matter who they are; in the belief that right will triumph over wrong; and, in the after-life which is the Christian promise made so long ago by the man from Galilee. If there was one passage from the Bible, which she held daily for comfort, it would be Psalm 119:105. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path”. Karen left this message in May, 2012: “Don’t concern yourself with the loss of a spouse, a relative, or friend, rather celebrate the memories you retain. Don’t wonder why a life closes, for that is not for you to decide nor control. And, don’t grieve for me, for I have gone to a special place.” Karen is survived by her spouse: Roy; Roy’s sisters: Belva (John) Albert of Omaha, Neb., Shirley (John) Pitman of Sun City, Ariz. and Joan (Larry) Widman of Surprise, Ariz. She is also survived by nine nieces and nephews: Jean, John, Jim, Barbara, Brenda, Jill, David, Ericka and Nils. She was preceded in death by her parents: Karl and Liz Asp, both in June of 1985; her brother: Eric Asp in July of 1993; her paternal grandparents: Nils and Selma Asp; and her maternal grandparents: Phinus and Elizabeth Green. | |
