Karen Menz of Perry

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Karen Menz, 69, of Perry passed away Friday, March 11, 2022, at her home near Perry, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m. at the Christ Lutheran Church in rural Bouton. The service will be livestreamed on the Carris Family Funeral Home and Cremation Care Facebook page. Visitation will be Friday, March 18 from 1-7 p.m., with family present from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, Iowa.

Karen Kay (Knepper) Menz was born Sept. 22, 1952, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to John “Gene” Eugene and Betty Jean (Baumeister) Knepper.

She graduated from Perry High School in Iowa and Maryville University in Missouri.

Karen was an educator for two years in the Winterset school system.

She was united in marriage to David Carl Menz at Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry on June 12, 1976, and then moved to Perry, where she taught elementary school for 31 years.

Karen was a devoted member of Christ Lutheran Church, where she was involved with Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, led the creation of the Acorns and Oaks Day Care and created her “Fridays with Sister Karen” devotion series.

Known as Grandma Goldfish, she loved spending time with her grandchildren, who inspired her to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing children’s books.

Karen loved exploring God’s world with her husband and her cameras: from the timber down the road to Rocky Mountain National Park to the African savanna and beyond.

She cultivated God’s beauty in an ever-expanding two-acre flower garden.

Karen was Boy Scout leader to two Eagle Scouts and one Tiger Cub.

She was famous for her cinnamon rolls, ham balls, and shortbread.

Karen loved music: she led her church choir, organized her annual Honor and Praise Concert and sang with her sisters in the Grace Alone gospel ensemble for more than 20 years.

Karen passed peacefully at home, surrounded by friends, family and love, while listening to a recording of her father singing “The Lord’s Prayer.”

In death she rejoins her parents, Gene and Betty Knepper.

Left to cherish Karen’s memory are her husband, David Menz; sons, Andy (Sarah) Menz, Ben (Cassie) Menz and Aaron Menz; grandchildren, Lily, Elysse, Edison, Izaak, Hank and Jake; siblings, Kent (Rhonda) Knepper, Connie (Paul) Sheehy, Craig (Janice) Knepper and Scott (Carla) Knepper; and numerous nieces and nephews. Karen loved and was loved by countless friends, former students and furry critters.

Memorials will be given to Camp Mitigwa or the Perry Lutheran Homes and may be left at the funeral home or can be mailed to David Menz at 12476 Houston Ave., Perry, IA 50220. Online condolences may be left at www.carrisfuneralhome.com

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