Karen A. Weber, 83, Spirit Lake

A memorial service for Karen A. Weber was held Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford. Pastor Tim Voth officiated.

Pallbearers were Andy Plagge, Alex Plagge, Jack Plagge, Kate Plagge, Sydney Petersen, Elle Petersen, Lauren Dahl and Gabe Weber. Interment was in Lakeview Gardens Cemetery at Okoboji. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with arrangements.

Karen Ann Shannon, daughter of Lucille Katherine (Miller) Shannon, was born Nov. 23, 1939, at Fontanelle. She spent her youth in the Fontanelle area and attended school there. A special highlight from high school was being a member of the Bridgewater-Fontanelle girls’ basketball team. She started every game during her four-year high school career. Her senior year she led her team to a trip to Des Moines for the 1958 Iowa Girls State High School Basketball Tournament. Karen graduated that same year.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle was the setting for Karen’s marriage to Keith Eilts Weber on Saturday, April 8, 1961. The couple made their first home at Pammel Court in Ames while Keith attended Iowa State University, where he studied Veterinary Medicine.

After earning his DVM in 1967, Keith and Karen spent one year each in the communities of Kanawha and Sutherland before settling in Hartley where Keith began his own vet clinic in 1969. While “Doc,” as he was known locally, was building his vet practice, Karen kept the home fires burning and tended to their growing family, which included Jane, Jill and John. She liked to be involved in their school activities and sporting events and attended all of them. She and Doc were both active members of their church and participated/volunteered in many Hartley community events and organizations.

Always a sports enthusiast, Karen was a die-hard fan of the Iowa State football and basketball programs. However, it was hard to decide what to watch if both the Chicago Cubs and Cyclones were on at the same time! Doc and Karen purchased a home on West Lake Okoboji in 1998. When schedules would allow the whole family would gather there and just relax for a few days. Time spent together with her kids was one of Karen’s greatest joys; this was especially true when grandchildren and great-grandchildren were added to the group.

They made this their permanent home in 2008 and settled into the lake way of life. As founding members of Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford, Karen enjoyed Bible studies offered there and the fellowship of their church family. Keith and Karen relocated to East Lake Okoboji in 2017. In June of the following year, Keith passed away.

Karen remained living in their home until her death on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, at the age of 83 years.

Keeping her memory close at heart are her children: Jane (Jim) Plagge, of Clive; Jill (Dave) Kroon, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and John (JoAnn) Weber, of Orange City; eight grandchildren: Andrew (Krista) Plagge, Alexander Plagge, Jackson (Riley) Plagge, Kathlyn Plagge, Sydney Petersen, Elisabeth Petersen, Lauren (Josh) Dahl and Gabriel Weber; two step-grandchildren: Benjamin Kroon and Mackenzie Kroon; two great-grandchildren: Harrison Plagge and Henry Dahl; her sisters: Vinita (Melvin) Smith, Vicki (Stan) Brown and Evie (Bert) Sewell; brothers: Donald (Joanne) Shannon and Rex (Verlee) Raasch; other relatives and many dear friends.

Loved ones having gone before include her beloved husband, Keith; parents, Russel and Lucille Raasch; her brother, Bill Raasch; grandparents: Herman and Maggie Miller, and Don (Ethel) Shannon; and brother-in-law, Harold Mensing.