Karen E. Sabiers, 83, of Fremont passed away with the love and support of her family by her side on Feb. 3, 2026 at her home. She was born in Oberlin, OH on Aug. 4, 1942 to the late Howard and Mary (Adler) Born.

She married Asa Sabiers on January 25, 1964, in Henrietta, OH.

Karen graduated from Firelands High School in 1960, and from Bluffton College in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. At that time, she taught English at Bluffton High School for two years. In 1994, she received a Master of Arts degree in Interpersonal Communications from Bowling Green State University.

Beginning in 1974, she taught at Terra State Community College until retiring in 2000. She received Terra's award for Excellence in Teaching, and also the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award. She held memberships in Ohio Mathematics Teachers of Two-Year Colleges, the Ohio Association of Developmental Education, and the National Communication Association.

Karen was a devoted wife and loving mother to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She cared for and supported her family through attending extracurricular events, planning vacation fun, and hosting holiday gatherings and the annual summer "cousins week". Connecting family and friends brought her much joy over the years. Those who knew her will always be touched by her faith, warmth, kindness and laughter.

Her community service included Sunday School teacher, member of Council, and member of the Race Relations Committee at Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church. For ten years, she volunteered as a 4-H leader. She was a member of C.U.R.E., Citizens Upholding Racial Equality.

In her spare time she enjoyed bible studies, sewing, reading, cooking, gardening, and swimming.

Left to cherish her memory include daughters, Kelly E. (Matthew) Smith of Tipton, MI, Kathy J. (Doug) Metzger of Martin, OH, and Jenny L. (Jason) Sabiers of Fremont; eight grandchildren, Kirsten (Mike) VanDerMeulen, Asa (Brittany) Smith and Amy (Rob) Fee, Karley and Gabe Metzger, Briannah Jenkins, and Jasannah and Julian Sabiers; six great-grandchildren, Jordan and Ryan VanDerMeulen, Delaney, Abby and Thomas Fee, and Millie Smith; siblings, Donna Drake of Massena, NY, Marilyn Closson of Phoenix, AZ, and Linda (Bob) Davidson of Oberlin, OH; and sister-in-law, Darlene (Sabiers) Hearn of Sacramento, CA. 

She is preceded in death by her husband; brothers, Phillip Born and Howard Born; and brothers-in-law, Stuart Closson and David Drake.

Visitation will be held Mon., Feb 9, 2026, from 1-6 PM at Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home & Crematory, 900 North Street, Fremont, Ohio, 43420. Funeral Services will take place Tues., Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Hayes Memorial UMC. Pastor Jen Miller will officiate, and burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Memorials in honor of Karen may be made to Hayes Memorial UMC, Heartland Hospice or to CDH International.