Karen Marie Horgan
Obituary

Karen Marie Brenneman Horgan, devoted wife, mother, grandma/meemaw, sister, daughter, and friend passed away peacefully on July 5th, at the age of 76, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Karen will be remembered for many reasons, but specifically how she blessed others with her hospitality, love of Christ, encouraging spirit, thoughtfulness, and wisdom.

Born in Igbetti, Nigeria, on February 25, to missionary parents Wayne and Hilda Brenneman, Karen was the second of five children. She spent her childhood in Nigeria, attending boarding school in Jos before her family returned to the United States. After graduating from Elkhart High School, she earned a degree in English Literature from Bethel University.

Music was a thread woven throughout her life. During both high school and college, she sang in choirs and found great joy in sharing her faith through music. When a job transferred her to Tulsa, Oklahoma, she met  Ron Horgan, the music director at her church—and the man who would become the love of her life for 50 years. Married in 1976, they went on to have three children and her ministry expanded beyond music to coordinating and hosting women’s events, fabulous dinners and encouraging friends with a listening ear, a perfectly selected scripture, heartfelt prayer and by living out what “Absolute trust brings perfect peace” means through her own battle with cancer.

Karen was always ready for a game, a family gathering, and on the look out for the perfect, or most ridiculous stocking stuffers.  She had a gift for making every person feel special and every occasion worth celebrating, planning perfectly every detail - whether it was a tea party with her granddaughters, creating scavenger hunts for her grandchildren, or organizing women’s events. It gave her joy to serve others with food and community and everyone left feeling blessed - especially those who experienced her cheesecakes and banana chocolate chip muffins - a grandkid favorite.

While her earthly presence will be dearly missed, there is comfort in the fact that she left the land of the dying to enter the land of the living, where she is undoubtedly singing once again with strong healthy lungs in Heaven’s choir.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Wayne Brenneman, in-laws Walter and Evelyn Horgan, and sister-in-law Sharmin Brenneman.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 50 years, Ron Horgan; mother, Hilda Brenneman (100); children Manda (Kevin) Stutts, Casey (Ambri), and Chris (Kelly); cherished grandchildren Preston, Colby, Emerson, Addison, Logan, and Wrigley; as well as her siblings, nieces, nephews, and extended family members. Karen is also survived by many dear friends from across the United States, who considered her faith and encouragement unwavering in the face of trials.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church (CPC), on August 1, at 10:00 AM, at 8300 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024.