Katherine Bledsoe Ahrens

Obituaries

Related Photos

Ahrens

Guestbook

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

March 2, 2013

Katherine Bledsoe Ahrens

Anonymous ---- The Tribune Star Sat Mar 02, 2013, 05:00 AM EST

August 27, 1926–

February 27, 2013

Katherine Bledsoe Ahrens was born in Terre Haute to Katherine Conlon Kunkler and Dr. William C. Kunkler. She graduated from Wiley High School in 1944 and received her undergraduate degree at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She received a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and married Walter A. Bledsoe, Jr. of Terre Haute in 1954. The couple reared four children: Karen, Kimberly, Alison, and Walter III.

Mrs. Ahrens was active in many Terre Haute community and charitable causes. She served for many years on the Board of Overseers of the Swope Art Museum and chaired the museum’s 21st Century Campaign. During the late 1990’s she served on a special advisory committee for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Mrs. Ahrens’ other board positions included the Family Service Association; the League of Terre Haute; the Wabash Valley Community Foundation; Sycamore Manor and a HUD project for the elderly uninsured. In 1990, she founded the social services organization Volunteer Action Center, also in Terre Haute.

Mrs. Ahrens and her late husband, Walter, were active parishoners in St. Benedict’s Church. In addition to parish activities, their religious outreach included support of Sisters of Providence at St.-Mary-of-the-Woods, the Carmelite Nuns, Gibault School and St. Ann Clinic. Mrs. Ahrens also tutored non-English speaking students attending Indiana State University through the local library’s ESL program.

Mrs. Ahrens moved permaently to Vero Beach, Florida, after Walter passed away. In 2006, she married William Ahrens, of Vero Beach. The couple were very active in Holy Cross Parish and various Catholic charitable organizations in the area. In 2007, Mrs. Ahrens was invested as a Lady in the Knights of Malta, a Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Mrs. Ahrens is survived by her husband Bill, her remaining children Kim, Alison, and Walter III, and seven grandchildren.

Mrs. Ahrens will be laid to rest during a private ceremony ay Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute. A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2013 from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Terre Haute Country Club. Local arrangements are under the direction of Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home, 605 South 25th Street. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Ann Clinic, 1436 Locust St., Terre Haute, Ind 47807. Funeral information may also be found at:

www.callahanandhughes.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Obituaries

Delbert E. Napie
Delbert E. Napier, 65, of Edgewood, Ill., formerly of Martinsville, passed away 6:30 a.m. at Casey Health Care Center, in Casey.

May 24, 2013 1 Photo
Linda Louise Stanton
Linda Louise Stanton, 69, of Clinton, passed away on May 21, 2013 at her residence.

May 24, 2013
Richard A. Barnes
Richard A. Barnes, 88, of Terre Haute, passed away on May 21, 2013.

May 24, 2013 1 Photo
Death notices: May 24, 2013
• Charlotte Ellen Fleming Collier,

• Lucille Pauline Barnard-Morse

May 24, 2013
Death notices: May 23, 2013
• Ruth Crane

May 23, 2013
Jack Norman Vicars
Jack Norman Vicars, 82, of West Terre Haute, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday evening, May 21, 2013, in his residence with his family by his side.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Mary Elizabeth Jameson
Mary Elizabeth Jameson, 87, of Buchanan, Tenn., formerly of Terre Haute, died Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Murray Calloway County Hospital, in Murray, Ky.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Betty Cox Swiger
Betty Cox Swiger, 69, of Terre Haute, passed away May 20, 2013, in Union Hospital’s emergency room.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Grace Eleanor Branam
Grace Eleanor Branam, 102, of Terre Haute, passed into the arms of her Savior and waiting loved ones at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2013, surrounded by family.

May 23, 2013 1 Photo
Geraldine (Jerry) Fell
Jerry Fell, 93, of Jupiter, Fla., passed away on May 15, 2013, at Jupiter Medical Center.

May 23, 2013
More Obituaries Headlines