Karen Sue Manning

Karen Sue Manning, 73, of Coshocton passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 15, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on May 22, 1949, in Sewickley, PA, to the late Robert W. Mlodzik and Margaret (Schreibeis) Mlodzik.

Karen graduated from Vincention High School in 1967, and went on to graduate from Kent State University in 1971, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She was licensed as a school Speech Language Pathologist and applied her vocation at several schools in Ada and Findlay, Ohio; she primarily worked in the Coshocton City School District at South Lawn Elementary School.

Karen met her future husband while taking a music appreciation class at Kent State where Karen approached him and asked if she could borrow his notes from a class she has missed due to illness. He remembered that she wore a gray, black, and white striped sweater, with a gray shirt and gray half pump shoes. Her hair was very long and auburn- the prettiest he had ever seen. He called her the following week and invited her to a late-night coffee at Lujan’s. This became a weekly ritual and blossomed into a long and wonderful life together. There were fraternity parties with themes of toga and pajamas and the FIJI “purple garter” event at the Mayflower in Akron.

They were married in a small chapel in Kent on the day of the biggest snowfall in Kent history at the time, and they had to search for their car as all were covered in snow. When they got to their apartment, he carried her onto the elevator to applause from those waiting to board. They moved to Ada, Ohio while he attended school and she began her teaching career. They then moved to Coshocton, his hometown, in 1975, where they resided until her passing.

Karen was a wonderful mother to her two sons, driving them to and from their numerous athletic events and always staying to watch, even if it meant following them from hole to hole on the golf course. She was also very involved in helping to plan and coordinate their activities in a leadership role. Truly her children and grandchildren were her life and being with them, teaching them, and loving them is what mattered most and gave her the greatest joy. She had a wonderful gift of engaging with children and always knew what would capture their interest whether it be a craft, a board game, playing “Uno” or “Go Fish,” or baking sugar cookies with lots of icing.

She also loved her students and the satisfaction gained by helping them resolve difficulties with their speech or hearing. It seems they liked coming to her class for speech therapy, which she confided was probably due to the stash of M&M’s she gave them as a reward for just trying. She often related running into her former students on the street or in the grocery store and she would marvel how they had grown, still having fond memories of her and their speech classes.

Karen is survived by her husband of 52 years, Michael D. Manning; children Joshua M. (Monica) Manning and Jason P. (Andrea) Manning both of Dublin; grandchildren Braden M. Manning, Lauren Elizabeth Manning, Dean O. Manning and Dylan P. Manning; sisters Kathi (Dave) Marburger, Barbara Mlodzik, Kimberlee (Dean) Zinkhann, and Teresa (Drew) Nulph; sisters-in-law W. Jeanne Tyson, Deborah A. Brown and several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law Owen D. Manning and Sue Ella (Reynolds) Manning and sister-in-law Bonnie O. Cottrell.

Karen’s family would like to thank Genesis Hospice Care, particularly Rochelle Hittle and Becky Roe for the care provided during her illness.

Friends may call at The Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main Street, Coshocton, Ohio 43812, on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 PM as well as one hour prior to the service. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM with Pastor Stew Royce officiating.

Interment will follow in South Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be directed to the Central Christian Church Memorial Foundation, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.