Karin Van Strien

Peterborough, NH Karin Van Strien died February 10, 2017 at RiverMead Lifecare Community in Peterborough, NH at the age of 92. She was born in Thuringia, Germany, daughter of Friedrich Fortun and his wife Katharina, geb. Buhl, who owned one of the oldest porcelain factories in the area. Due to economic difficulties after WWI the family had to leave Thuringia in 1930 and relocate in Berlin. Karin graduated from a girls' Lyceum (with Abitur-College preparatory) in 1943, entered the obligatory work service, followed by the war service on the Berlin trolley cars, a time of heavy bombardments. In spring of 1944 she left Berlin for Bavaria where she graduated from the School for Infants and Children, 1948, and from the School of Social Work, 1954, both in Munich. She returned to Berlin in 1954 to do social work and to attend the Institute for Psychotherapy, training in Play Therapy for children having emotional problems. Also, her love of music inspired her to join the Philharmonic Chorus in Berlin. In 1959 she immigrated to the United States to marry Rev. David Van Strien, pastor in Newburyport, MA and in 1969 in the Unitarian Church in Peterborough, NH. While in MA she worked the Child Guidance Clinic in Haverhill. In 1970 she graduated from Boston University School of Social Work with an MA and joined the Mathew Thornton Health Plan in Nashua, NH, to work there from 1977 until her retirement in 1991. As a peace activist, she worked with her husband who was Chairman of Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East for many years. She was a member of the Goethe Society and of the Garden Club, including the Ikenobe- Ikebana Society. She was also a long-time member of the Monadnock Chorus. She loved the Monadnock Region with its many nature walks, theatre, opera, Kaffeeklatsches, traveling, especially to Germany to visit families and friends. Survivors include, Egmont Fortun, brother; nephews, Steffen and Martin and their families, all in Germany; a niece Vickie Chamberlain and family in Greensboro, NC; a nephew David Ammerman and family in Maine. Karin is predeceased by her husband David D. Van Strien and her nephew John F. Ammerman. A private burial with family will take place in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Karin's name to the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, 25 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458 or the Monadnock Chorus, PO Box 218, Peterborough, NH 03458.

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