Karen Louise Kelsch

Karen Louise Leonhard Kelsch passed away peacefully at her home September 13, 2017, surrounded by her family.Services will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, September 19, at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 601 N 4th St., Bismarck, with Rev. Pat Eustis officiating.Burial will be held at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Monday, September 18, at Eastgate Funeral Service, 2302 East Divide Ave., Bismarck, where a meditation service will begin at 7:00 pm.Karen was born October 7, 1936, to Herman Leonhard and Claire Hoisveen in Bismarck, North Dakota. Her life was filled with the music she loved. She grew up in Bismarck and began taking piano lessons at the age of 4 from Belle Mehus.  At the age of 17 she performed Grieg's concerto for piano with the Bismarck ~ Mandan Symphony Orchestra. During this time she also began her teaching career with Belle and Royal Hopkins. Following her graduation from Bismarck High School she went to the Performing Arts school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She returned to North Dakota and finished her degree at the University of North Dakota. On January 30, 1963, she married Thomas F. Kelsch of Mandan. Upon relocating to Bismarck she began teaching music in the Bismarck/ Mandan public schools and as well as around the community. She also taught private piano lessons that continued in her home for 62 years. She played violin in the Bismarck ~ Mandan Symphony for 35 years and performed often with various quartets. Along with her involvement in music she was active in PEO Chapter AA, her book club and St. George’s Episcopal Church.  She is survived her beloved husband Tom; her three children, Steven Kelsch, (MiSuk) of Olympia, WA; Andrea Shea (Tim) of Salem, MA and Kirsten Kelsch (Justin Phillips) of Bismarck; and grandchildren James, Jaime, Thomas, Tristan, Trent and Anthony; and by her sister Jeanne Leer, Golden Valley, MN.