Karen R. Balogh

September 28, 1942 - June 28, 2021

Karen Ruth Balogh (nee Tetzlaff), died Monday morning, June 28, 2021 at Fairview Hospital. She was born September 28, 1942, to Raymond Tetzlaff and Sophia Bauer. She attended Sts. Phillip and James Catholic School and graduated from West Technical High School in 1960. While working in the dispatch office at Ohio Bell, Karen met Richard Balogh. One week after her 21st birthday, on October 5, 1963, she married him at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Immediately after marrying, Richard and Karen moved to their lifelong home on West 190th Street in West Park. She spent the next 25 years raising her children, working part-time as a lunch guard and librarian at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in West Park. Whether waking up early to help her son deliver newspapers, getting soaked in water fights, or giving her children haircuts, Karen relished in motherhood. After her children grew up, she babysat and worked as a billing specialist at North Coast Associates. Later, she volunteered at St. Patrick’s Hunger Center and Playhouse Square. Richard and Karen shared a passion for musical theatre, particularly “West Side Story” and “The Lion King”. Karen was a talented ceramicist, needleworker, and baker. Her family anxiously awaited nut roll at Christmastime, which she mailed to her children once they moved away. Karen loved spending time with her grandchildren, whether spraying whipped cream into their mouths or playing hands of pinochle. She painted, explored Cleveland, and visited Cedar Point and Chicago with her grandchildren. Richard and Karen enjoyed animals, sharing their home with two dogs (Midgee and Brandy) and six cats (Ozzie, Bernie, Annie, Charlie, Shadow, and Trouble) over several decades. Her parents and younger sister Marilyn Kavc preceded her in death. Survivors include her husband Richard, son Lawrence (Diane) Balogh of Zionsville, Indiana and daughter Bonnie Martens of Climax, Michigan and four grandchildren: Katherine Balogh, Benjamin Balogh, Elizabeth Martens, and Nicholas Martens. Four cousins and two nephews also survive her, though she harbored a deep affinity for John (Barb) Tetzlaff. Karen was a Lifebanc donor. Visitation is 12-2 PM with a service to follow at 2 PM on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at Sunset Chapel, 6245 Columbia Road in North Olmsted. Internment at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Medina Raptor Center, Inc. or Northeast Ohio SPCA in Karen’s name.