Obituary of Karen L. Jehle

Karen L. Jehle, 83 of Wellman formerly of Iowa City died Thursday, January 21, 2021, at the Parkview Manor Care Center in Wellman. Private family services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday, January 28, 2021, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. The services will be livestreamed for friends and extended family. Please share your support and memories with Karen’s family and find a link to the livestream details on her Livestream Link at www.gayandciha.com under obituaries, where you may also share condolences. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established to support a remembrance at Parkview Manor. Karen was born July 13, 1937, in Iowa City, Iowa the daughter of Richard and Lenora (Pobuda) Verry. She attended rural country one room schoolhouse located on Rohret Road just down from the family farm outside the city limits of Iowa City. She then attended and graduated from City High School. She married Jerry Starbuck and had daughter, Debra and later married Harold Jehle on March 14, 1959 and had daughter, Melanie. They were married for 47 years until Harold’s death. Karen was employed as a housekeeper at the University of Iowa, Iowa House Hotel until she took early retirement and then later worked as a clerk at MCI. In her early years, she enjoyed waitressing at the Iowa City Airport Coffee Shop and the Big Ten Inn in Iowa City. She enjoyed much in life, traveling the country with Harold collecting antiques and many precious items for their collections. She loved to shop for gifts for others and was known to be a serious bargain hunter. She enjoyed many activities like league bowling, playing cards, playing bingo, quilting/sewing and making crafts for family and friends. But most of all she cherished the time spent with family, especially at their cabin on the Cedar River near Sutliff. Nearly twelve years ago, she moved to Wellman to be nearer to some of her family and take advantage of excellent compassionate health care associated with the Parkview Manor. Here she really enjoyed playing games, making crafts and coloring beautiful pictures, sharing her artworks with residents, staff and families when they visited. Her family includes her two daughters, Debra J. Starbuck (Richard Foster) and Melanie S. (Jehle) Stutzman (Robert); four grandchildren, Eric Starbuck, Corey Starbuck, Matt Stutzman (Nicole) and Joseph Stutzman (Christina Day); six great-grandchildren, Ellison Walsh, Sariah Stutzman, Owen Stutzman, Alexander Stutzman, Anthony Day, Mia Day; sister, JoAnn Cox and many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, infant siblings, Rose Marie and Dickey; sister, Emma Lou Auchard; brother, Robert L. Verry and an infant great-grandchild, Taylor Curry Starbuck. Karen was a ray of sunshine to all that knew her. She always had a hug and smile to share with others. She will be remembered for her selfless generosity and love.