Karen M. Strawn

Karen M. Strawn, 63, Jefferson passed away Thursday, April 16, 2015, at her home surrounded by her family.
Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Third Presbyterian Church in Sioux City. The Rev. Cathie Bishop will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City. Arrangements are under the direction of Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Karen was born on June 21, 1951, in Sigourney, Iowa, the daughter of Richard and Myra (Appleget) Peiffer. She was raised on farm near Harper, Iowa. Karen graduated from Keota High School in 1969 and from Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in distributive studies in 1974.
On Nov. 6, 1971, she married Willis "Bill" Strawn II in Harper, Iowa. The couple lived in Ames, Iowa, until they graduated from college and then moved to Storm Lake, Iowa in 1975. Karen worked in the Buena Vista County auditor's office for 25 years and served as the county auditor for 22 years. After she retired in March 2010, the couple moved to Dakota Dunes, where they lived for a little less than a year before they moved to Jefferson in 2011.
She served as a past officer for Iowa State Association of Counties. She was also a past president for the Iowa State Auditor's Association. Karen also was a past president of the Northwest Iowa District Auditors. Karen was a member of Third Presbyterian Church in Sioux City. She volunteered at S.C.O.R.E in Sioux City and served as their secretary and treasurer. Karen was very active in the county and state Republican Party Associations. She enjoyed cooking and sewing and she loved playing the piano and organ. She played for her younger sister's weddings as well as many weddings and funerals during her high school years. What she loved most was being with her husband, children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Willis "Bill" Strawn II of Jefferson; her daughter, Laura (Tod) Stokes and their children, Nathan and Lillian of Sioux City; daughter-in-law, Patty Strawn and her children, Willis IV, Jackson, and Isabella, all of McCook Lake, S.D.; her parents, Richard and Myra Peiffer of South English, Iowa; her brother, Jay (Connie) Peiffer of South English; sisters, Susan Fry and her special friend, Allen Frederickson of Alta, Iowa, Meri (Jeff) Petersen of Alta, Lisa (Chris) Cowan of Ankeny, Iowa, and Jayne (Larry) Orris of Washington, Iowa; brother-in-law, Calvin (Vicki) Genkinger of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, Willis Strawn III; her sister, Ann Genkinger; and her brother-in-law, Roger Fry.
Memorials may directed to Hospice of Siouxland.