Kristen Vennekotter

Kristen Michelle (Siler) Vennekotter, 33, of Sugar Land, Texas and formerly of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, September 11th, 2013 at the Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in Texas. Hearts broke all over the world.

She is survived by her husband Mark Daniel Vennekotter, formerly of Kalida, Ohio and their children Ella Marie and Jackson Mark Vennekotter. She was born May 20th, 1980, the daughter of William “Bill” and Joni (Standley) Siler, who survive in Bellefontaine with her three brothers, Jordan, Jacob, and Hunter Siler and her maternal grandparents, Nigle and Phyllis (Guy) Standley.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents William Merritt and Mary Ann (Petrascu) Siler.

Kristen was a 1998 graduate of Bellefontaine High School. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in History from The Ohio State University in 2003 as well as a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the American University in Washington, D.C. in 2005. Kristen then worked as a Foreign Affairs Officer at the U.S. Department of State, traveling to Naples, Italy where she met her husband Mark, a submarine officer in the United States Navy. Both Kristen and Mark were instantly connected upon realizing they grew up only an hour apart from each other in Ohio.

The couple were married in Columbus, Ohio November 8, 2008, and relocated to Texas where she worked as an Executive Assistant for Fayez Sarofim & Co. and later as a Corporate Governance Analyst for Apache Corporation. Kristen enjoyed traveling, baking, reading, writing and spending time at home with her family. Her brilliant smile and vibrant laughter will be missed.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, September 19, 2013, at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, with Pastor Scott Anderson officiating. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at the funeral home. Interment will be at the St. Isidore Cemetery in Putnam County, Ohio.

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