Obituaries : Karen (Kramer) Schaub

Karen (Kramer) Schaub of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home on June 22, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, at Bethany Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with Pastor Michael Erickson officiating. A private inurnment will be held at a later date at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Blairstown, Iowa. A visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, June 26, at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Karen was born on Oct. 14, 1946, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, the second daughter of Wilmer (Bill) and Lillian (Lill) (Jackson) Kramer. Karen was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Luzerne, Iowa, where she attended parochial school from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Karen later graduated from Keystone High School, with the Class of 1964. On June 8, 1968, Karen married the love of her life, John A. Schaub, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Luzerne.

Karen was active in 4-H, was a candy striper at the University of Iowa, and loved playing with her cousins and neighborhood friends while growing up. Living close to her two sets of grandparents was a gift. Karen enjoyed calligraphy, serving on the Youth Salute Board, being a lifelong blood donor and leading the Parkinson's Support Group she and John started with friends in Muscatine. Karen was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod her whole life and served her Lord as a Sunday School teacher, offices in the LWML and Trustee for many years. Wherever Karen saw a need, she was there to serve. Her faith was important to her.

Karen worked at People's Bank in Cedar Rapids and retired from Central State Bank in Muscatine after many years of service. After retiring in 2008, John and Karen enjoyed many adventures in travel with a trip to the Holy Lands and the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in Germany at the top of their list. Karen and John enjoyed following the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams and traveling to attend several bowl games.

After retirement, Karen and John's life was greatly enhanced by the view from their home in Muscatine that looked out at the Mississippi River. It was a gift to them to see the many sites the river provided and were incredibly grateful for their early morning river walks.

Karen will be remembered for the many pictures she took of her grandchildren and so loved creating their childhood picture albums beginning the day they were born. She loved her grandchildren dearly and never missed an opportunity to be with them and attend their activities. Karen enjoyed writing her grandchildren letters with special surprises which brought her and them great joy.

Karen is survived by her husband, John, the love of her life, Cedar Rapids; her son, Nathan (Fumiko) Schaub, Seattle, Wash.; daughter, Tisha Junge, Cedar Rapids; son, Nick (Annie) Schaub, Robins, Iowa; four very dear and special grandchildren, Syriana Schaub, Trey Junge, Rory and Greta Schaub; sister, Judy Edwards, Cedar Rapids; brother, David Kramer, Belle Plaine; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents.