LINCOLN, CA (September 4, 2013) – Covenant minister Karen (Van Steenwyk) Hearl, wife of retired Covenant pastor Alan Hearl and a strong advocate of leadership training for women, died Monday following a long battle with cancer. She was 74.
A celebration of life service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in the main worship center at Bayside Church in Granite Bay.
Hearl was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 1, 1939. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing from North Park College in 1962 and worked as a pediatric nurse.
She married Alan on August 25, 1962. Together they ministered at Covenant churches across the United States.
Hearl also was a long-time leader with Women Ministries in the Covenant, and was instrumental in developing and guiding its Ministry Coaching program. She was honored for her years of service at Triennial XIV last month.
“She was an incredible inspiration, encouragement and blessing to me and to hundreds of others,” said Meagan Gillan, executive minister of the Department of Women Ministries.
Survivors include her husband and two sons, David and Tim.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been set up to support Hearl’s favorite ministries, the Department of Women Ministries, Mission Springs Camps & Conference Center, and Bayside. Gifts should be directed to the Bayside Church Memorial Fund in Karen’s name, P.O. Box 2336, Granite Bay, CA 95746.
