Karen Klejch, 64, of Creston, died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospital. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Burial will be at a later date. Pastor Phil Price will officiate. Open visitation will be 2-7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the family to be determined. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.
Karen Kay Klejch was born Jan. 8, 1960, to George Aldon and Betty June (Abell) Eggman in Iowa City. She was raised and went to school in Creston.
On April 9, 1983, Karen was united in marriage to Curtis Allen Klejch at the Presbyterian Church in Orient. They had one son, Jason, and two daughters, Shannel and Chantel.
Karen worked at special needs group homes when her kids were younger and had a passion for working with these clients and she carried a special place in her heart for them. She transitioned into a full-time home caretaker along with traveling/helping in whatever her kids were doing.
She loved doing ceramics (especially for the holidays), collecting coins and camping at Green Valley Lake, Fogle Lake and at the Iowa State Fair – they went consecutively for 38 years, minus covid year.
Karen and Curt were involved in bowling league, slow-pitch softball, Girl Scouts and so many more activities with their children. Karen coached little league softball for years with her husband, Curt. She had a special place in her heart for troubled young adults.
She was always a dedicated mom and grandma and traveled everywhere to watch her kids. When her daughters started playing high school softball, Karen started helping with the softball concession stand. Teams would rave about the food when the John Stephens Softball Tournament was played. She’d go above and beyond and even sewed black and red flags to put out on the fence for the softball team.
Since she did a great job in the concession stand, in 2003, she started working at Creston High School as a junior class sponsor. She continued this, along with working as a paraprofessional at the high school. She enjoyed her friendships she made along the way and retired in 2015.
Curt was the love of her life. She loved watching and being with her husband, kids and six grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Curtis Klejch of Creston; her son, Jason (Casie) Klejch of Creston; her two daughters, Shannel Troutwine of Creston and Chantel Klejch of Creston; six grandchildren: Jalyn, Tanner, Camden and Jubil Klejch and Garrett and Kallen Troutwine; brother, Jumar (Kaddie) Gordon of Sterling, Colorado; two sisters, Kathy Delaney of Creston and Deanna (Jim) Flynn of Lineville, Missouri; mother-in-law, Betty R. Miller; brothers-in-law, Kevin Klejch and Chuck Klejch, sisters-in-law, Becky (Brian) Keeney and Kristy Klejch; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many relatives.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; her sister, Lisa Gordon, in infancy; father-in-law, LaVerne Klejch, and many extended family members.