Dear Wietings,

I was so sad to hear of Karen's passing. She is one of my first friends of memory. Such a sweet friend in those preschool and kindergarten years. I remember playing dress up in your basement. I thought the girls' dancing costumes were so amazing! What a fun time we had in our backyards, too. I am thankful that you all and Karen have been part of my life.

Sending my thoughts and prayers to you all as we continue to remember Karen.

Love,

Gina Visser Smit

Dear Steve, Margaret, and Helene --

I finally learned of Karen's untimely departure just yesterday afternoon, a few hours after the service. She was one of the most warm and caring people I have ever met, and I can only imagine the sorrow you must be feeling having been so close to her.

If there is anything I can do to ease your burden, please feel free to ask for anything. Steve and I exchanged a couple of emails last month regarding assistance with a moving project, but I never realised it was in relation to something like this.

Thinking of you (and her),

Ben

Dear Karen's family,

So sorry to hear of Karen's untimely death. Our family knew her glowing smile and personality through swim events in the '80s and still recall those happy days. May you savor such memories through these difficult days.

David A. Jepsen

Dear family of Karen,

I wanted to say how sorry I am and how saddened to hear of Karen's passing. We knew her through church. This past year, Karen was my daughter's sunday school teacher, and I am so thankful she had the joy of knowing Karen. It was truly a joy to know her. She always remembered my name, asked about the kids, and genuinely cared about us. I will always remember her fondly, though I only knew her a few short years. My prayers are with you during this time.

I met Karen several years ago when we were both in between jobs and working at Pearson's. We often took walks together on our work breaks. Karen was intelligent, warm and friendly to everyone she came in contact with. I was very sad to hear of her untimely passing. Even though our acquaintance was brief, her kindness and giving nature are vivid in my memory of her.

Dearest Margaret, Steve, and Helene

Terry and I were so saddened to read the news of Karen's passing. I hope you can feel our arms around you to try to comfort you in this very difficult time.

Karen was such a joy! What a beautiful person inside and out!!! I so enjoyed her wonderful enthusiasm, smile, humor and genuine conversation. And, she was so smart!

We are traveling and unable to be with you. But, please know we are thinking of you. Hopefully, we can get together later.

With heartfelt sympathy and love,

Ann and Terry Smothers

Dear Margaret and family,

I was so sorry to learn of Karen's passing. I remember you talking of her swimming and going out East to school and how proud you were of her. It has to be the most difficult thing for a parent to deal with. I took the obituary to St. Paul's so others would be informed. Unfortunately we will be at Clear Lake next week and will be unable to attend the services. You will certainly be in our prayers and thoughts. I trust that your faith and your special memories will help you in the days to come. It sounded like she had great faith also. We so enjoyed your time at St Paul's. It would be great to see you again. Take care and keep the faith.

With sympathy,

BEcky and Ed Holstrom

I am so sorry to hear of Karen's passing. I will always remember her as the bright and adorable little girl I babysat.

Steve, Margaret & Helene, we are so sorry to read about Karen’s passing. Both Harry & I will miss her cheerful hugs when we ran into you all at the wrestling meets. She was always so enthusiastic & happy. What a dear sweet soul, gone way too soon. She will be missed by many. We send prayers & our deepest sympathies. I am so sorry.

Harry & Chris

Karen had a generous, giving spirit, & a ready smile.  She was a friend through church, who loved children and worked at promoting their comfort & self-esteem.  She always asked about our 3 children whenever I saw her & truly cared how they were doing.  She was excited to start a new career as an elementary teacher & it is sad the education system will not benefit from her gifts.  She was a vital part of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church through her ministry participation with children & deacons, her previous staff role as ministry assistant, & her friendly presence.  She will be deeply missed.

I worked with Karen on several projects at Pearson. She was even my supervisor on a couple of them. I always enjoyed working with her. She had an extremely kind spirit and would have made an excellent elementary school teacher...

My condolences to Karen's family. Karen was a schoolmate of mine from kindergarten at Grant Wood till we graduated at City High. She had a very infectious smile.

I am so sorry to hear of Karen’s passing. My mother and I saw Karen earlier this summer at the Iowa City Arts Fest. It was wonderful to see her and catch up after all these years. I was excited to hear of her decision to become a teacher and watching her eyes light up when talking was heart warming. Please know that you are in our thoughts during this difficult time.

Rachel and Kersin VanGilder

Margaret and family,

I am so very sorry to hear about Karen. I remember her from when you and I worked at Systems Unlimited. She was such a friendly kid. She sure added spice to life. Reading her obituary and other condolences she sure was a remarkable woman. You and your family will be in my prayers. Love Lisa

My heartfelt condolences as you grieve Karen’s death. She was a student in the elementary music Methods class I supervised, and I recall how much care and love she contributed to her learning. Blessings to all the family.

Mary

Steve and family, please know your friends at The Cottage have you in our thoughts and prayers. We all loved to see Karen's beautiful, smiling face come in to brighten our day. She was such a wonderful, kind, compassionate and thoughtful woman. I am going to miss our chats so very much. This is just so very tragic. We are all deeply saddened, and so very blessed to have had her touch our lives. We are so very very sorry.

I went to graduate school with a Marie and remember her as a friendly and positive person, super smart. Deepest condolences to her family.

Dear Steve, Margaret and Helene,

Marilyn and I read this morning of Karen's passing. Our most heartfelt condolences go out to you.

I have many memories, from long ago and as well as recent, about Karen -- all of them wonderful and positive. Over 40 years ago she would crawl into my lap at one of the many Wieting graduate student parties a confident and happy little girl.

Forty years later she enrolled in an education course that I teach. From September to December last year Karen and I enjoyed reminiscing about old times in Iowa City, her experiences in France, as well as discussing educational processes or issues. Always she was supremely kind, considerate, thoughtful and smart. She would have been a spectacular elementary school teacher.

Karen's passing is a terrible loss for all who new her. I will remember her always with great fondness. Again our heartfelt condolences go out to you. If there is anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerest and Warmest Regards,

Bruce and Marilyn Fehn

I am so sad to hear of Karen’s passing. we were friends in grad school at SMU. My father had rheumatoid, and i was worried for her having it so young. She accomplished so much in her life, and was a joy and inspiration to everyone she met.

Helene and family

I am so sorry to hear of your sad news. Please know you are all in my thoughts. I'm hoping as you move forward through this difficult time that you will find time to reveal good memories together.

I'm so very sorry to hear of Karen's passing. She was such a lovely young woman and I know she'll be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. She always had a smile and never had a negative word to say. I always enjoyed her visits to the Sociology office and her chats with Mary and me. I know her pain is now gone and I'm happy for her.

Steve, Margaret and Helene, you have my sincere sympathy. May God be with you and help heal the pain of your loss.

Love to all of you.

Joyce

Margaret, Steve and Helene, I am saddened by the news of Karen's passing. I have fond memories of her time as a member of the City High Girls Swimming Team. She was such a gifted athlete with a hard work ethic and a fun and loving personality. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.

Sue

I’m so sorry to hear this sad news about Karen. She was so nice and a very fun person. I remember seeing her around City High and loving the fact that she was friendly and always had something nice to say. Karen was truly a lovely person.

Karen was a blessing to our family in a time of need. She will be missed and she is Gone too soon. May she Rest In Peace

With her Father

In heaven.

Karen was one of the first people I met when I moved to Iowa City. She’s was the most positive and upbeat person that I had met in a very long time. She always had a smile on her face and a kind compliment to give. Even when we hadn’t seen each other in awhile, she would always pick right back up where we left off. She was an amazing person and I’m so grateful to get the opportunity to have met her and had her in my life. I’ll never forget her kind smile and positive attitude, but i know her love and optimism will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’ll never forget you Karen, and I know in my heart that you have found piece.

My thoughts are with Karen's family. I have many good memories of her at Grant Wood elementary and in Camp Fire. Karen always had a smile on her face.

My thoughts are with Karen's family. I have many good memories of her at Grant Wood elementary and in Camp Fire. Karen always had a smile on her face.

My sincere condolences for you, Karen’s dear ones. Life will not be the same without Karen visibly in my life, but she has left us a legacy of courage and love. God bless you and give you peace.

Karen was one of the most upbeat and engaging people I know. As members of the same book club, we enjoyed seeing each other monthly. Karen brought interesting insights to the conversation. She also remembered so many details about our daughter, Alice, and asked about her frequently. Karen was a special person with a gift to connect with others. She will be greatly missed by so many.

We all know the saying, choose to be kind. Karen lived that. No matter what she was going through she was always kind. I will keep a piece of you Miss Karen and pass on some kindness in your memory.

My condolences to the family and other friends of Karen. As a friend and fellow church member of St. Andrew, I will miss her very much as will my fellow deacons and the Sunday School children. Twila

Karen played a key role in the spiritual education of each of my three children. Every time our family bumped into her -- whether on the Iowa City ped mall or at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church -- she always wore a smile and offered an excited greeting.

I knew Karen primarily through her role as a deacon and a children's Sunday school teacher, but every once in a while she would let loose intellectually and would give full display to the anthropological training she received from the University of Michigan and Columbia. I was proud her recent decision to enroll in the Elementary Teacher Education Program at the University of Iowa.

When I asked Karen earlier this year whether she wanted to sign up for a second three-year term as a St. Andrew deacon, she replied: "I have struggled recently with the intellectual (and to be honest - physical) demands of being back in school and I have not had the visible presence at church as much as I wish. That being said, there is still a solid prayerful and spiritual in me that feels this is a place that God can use my heart and energies."

She is going to missed by many.