James Franklin Konzen

KONZEN James Franklin Konzen, 74, of Port Charlotte, Florida, formerly of Worthington, Ohio, died early Thursday morning, August 21st, 2008, at Bloomfield Cottages, Ashland, after a five month bout with brain cancer. Jim was born December 16, 1933, in Fremont, Ohio, the son of Frank H. and Viola (Binger) Konzen. A graduate of Pemberville High School and later of Bowling Green State University, Jim earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He later attended The Ohio State University and Eastern Kentucky University where he earned a Master of Music Education degree. Jim's Ohio teaching career included orchestra instruction with Genoa, Sandusky and Worthington City Schools, retiring in 1990 after 35 years. He also served two years with the U.S. Army in the Special Services Orchestra. He was a gifted violin and viola musician who performed with the Toledo Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Capital University Symphony, Central Ohio Symphony, and Westerville Symphony orchestras. In Florida he was a member of The Venice Symphony and Charlotte Symphony. In both states he was violist with Classics Plus String Ensembles. Jim was a member of the First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda, Florida. His hobbies included golfing, tennis and snow skiing. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia (Meyer) Konzen, whom he married November 23, 1991; his mother, Viola Konzen of Sandusky; a son, Jeffrey James Konzen of Columbus; 2 daughters and son-in-law, Shelley and Rod Conley and Kimberly Williams, all of Sandusky; 6 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Larry Konzen of Marblehead and Dennis Konzen of Mattawan, Michigan; and his sister, Betty Meuser of Westerville. He was preceded in death by his father Frank Konzen in 1983. Funeral service will be held Monday, August 25, at 10:30 a.m. in BYERLY-LINDSEY FUNERAL HOME, Loudonville, with Rev. Howard Burnett officiating. Burial will be in Mansfield Memorial Park. Friends may call Sunday, August 24 from 1-4 p.m. in Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, 123 North Market Street, Loudonville, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1050 Dauch Drive, Ashland, Ohio 44805, or the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda, 459 Gill Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.byerly-lindsey.com. Sign the online guestbook at www.dispatch.com/obituaries