Karen Lynn Nelson

Karen Lynn (Jensen) Nelson, the daughter of Leo C. and Audrey Byrd Jones Jensen, was born December 5, 1964, in Audubon, Iowa and died June 22, 2008, at her home in Oakland, Iowa at the age of 43 years, 6 months, and 17 days.
     Karen was baptized January 10, 1965, and confirmed May 27, 1979, at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. She attended Audubon Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1983. Karen attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She then taught school for three years at Bennington Public School in Bennington, Nebraska, as the English, Speech, and Drama Instructor. 
     On June 16, 1990, she was united in marriage to Roger Kenneth Nelson at an outdoor ceremony at Dana College in Blair.  One daughter, Kirsten, was born to this union. They lived in Seattle, WA from 1990-1995.  Karen was employed as a teacher at Riverview Public School in Carnation, WA. In 1995, they moved to Monmouth, OR where Karen was a substitute teacher. They then moved to Oakland, IA in 1997. Karen was a substitute teacher for a short time, then taught at the Alternative School in Council Bluffs, IA for one year. She taught High School English, Speech and Drama at the Riverside Community Schools.  She has been the Media Specialist at Riverside High School for the past several years.
     Karen had been a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon and presently was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, IA.  She was a member of the Iowa High School Speech Association.  She enjoyed quilting, reading, and genealogy. She loved to travel both nationally and internationally and enjoyed listening to music, scrapbooking, and flower gardening. She also took care of her parents and other elder relatives.
     Preceding her in death were her parents; her grandparents: Ted and Mae Jones and Simon and Anna C. Jensen; and
 her grandmother-in-law Laura Lund.
     Survivors include her husband Roger K. Nelson and her daughter Kirsten Nelson, both of Oakland, IA; her step-son Joshua Nelson of Federal Way, WA; her brother and sisters:  Jennifer J. Jensen of Omaha, NE; Wayne L. Jensen of Raytown, MO; Karla R. and Rev. Mark Jensen of Beaver Dam, WI; her brothers-in-law:  Gary and Anne Nelson of Hutchinson, MN and Jeff and Kim Nelson of Albert Lea, MN; her parents-in-law Richard and Karen Nelson of Albert Lea; her grandparents-in-law:  Norval and Helen Nelson of Albert Lea, MN; Arnold and Dorothy Lund of Clarks Grove, MN; her nieces and nephews:  Micah Jensen, Isaac Jensen, and Kamilla Jensen, all of Beaver Dam, WI; Alec, Jenna, and Andrew Nelson of Hutchinson, MN; Adam and Sydney Nelson of Albert Lea, MN; her aunts and uncles:  Bernice and Duane Barratt of Irwin, IA; Mary and Harold Sand of Audubon, IA; Fauntella Rutherford of Elgin, OR; Betty Horton of LeMars, IA;  Dwight and Loretta Schewe of Clarks Grove, MN; Bill and Pat Draayer of Hollandale, MN; Dean and Sue Westrum of Glenville, MN; Edith and Bruce Earnest of LaMesa, TX; Tom and Heidi Lund of Salisburg, SC; Charles Lund of New Hope, MN, Dean and Carolyn Wangen of Albert Lea, MN; cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Memorials:
Memorials are preferred to Dana College or the Audrey B. Jensen and Karen (Jensen) Nelson Memorial Scholarship at Audubon High School.

Cemetery:
.  Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dennis Reich of Trinity Lutheran Church of Avoca, IA and Pastor Mark Jensen of First Lutheran Church of Beaver Dam, WI, on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon.