Obituary of Clayton James Karr

Clayton J. “CJ” Karr, age 37, of West Liberty, died Saturday from injuries received in a single-car accident in Muscatine County. Services celebrating CJ’s life will be held at 1 pm Friday, April 15, 2022, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at the Lone Tree Cemetery in Lone Tree with Military Honors. There will be a time of visitation from 4 to 7 pm Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established to support his daughter’s future. To share a thought, memory, or condolence, please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Clayton James Karr was born July 13, 1984, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. He was raised in West Liberty, where he also attended schools K-12. After high school, he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard with the 2133rd Transportation Company and deployed to Iraq with the 2168th Transportation Company. After completing his military obligations, he returned to this area, where he worked up until his death with West Liberty Foods as a Maintenance Supervisor. CJ again demonstrated his commitment to service as a Firefighter/EMT on Atalissa and West Liberty Fire Departments. CJ enjoyed life to its fullest, riding his Harley, playing darts, golfing, fishing, supporting his sports teams, the Iowa Hawkeyes, Boston Red Sox, and the New England Patriots. CJ was known to cook up some pretty tasty meats, but near and dear to his heart was the love of his life, little Elizabeth Rae “Ellie.” She could melt his heart in seconds, and lord knows whatever she wanted, she got! Especially her daddy’s heart! CJ was known to everyone as a person you could count on for a listening ear, blunt advice, and a kind soul who would help anyone he could. CJ’s family includes his girls, Ellie and Kynlee; his mother, Cindy Krogh; his little big sister, Jessi, and her husband, Brett Becker; and their children, Maddy, Olivia, and Benjamin; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends who will miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ernest and Charlotte Krogh.