Obituary for Karen M. Worrell
Karen M. Worrell, age 70, of Smithland, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2018, at the Valley Reginal Medical Center of Brownsville, TX.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Salix, Iowa. Father Michael Erpelding will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Memorial Park Cemetery of Sioux City, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 25, 2019, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Salix, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Karen Marjorie (Buol) Worrell left this life on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Valley Regional Hospital in Brownsville, TX with her loving husband Gary by her bedside. Residents of Smithland, IA, they were at their winter home she loved in Brownsville. Although besieged by numerous medical problems in recent years, Karen fought a valiant battle before the latest diagnosis of liver cancer claimed her life.
Karen, born November 18, 1948, in Hawarden, IA, was the third child of Raymond Albert and Dorothy Irene (Carey) Buol. She was educated in the Hawarden public schools which became West Sioux during her attendance. However, her adventurous spirit led her to decide to spend her senior year with relatives in Oregon and she graduated from Ranier High School. After graduation, she returned to Iowa and trained as a keypunch/data entry operator at WIT in Sioux City, IA. On November 9, 1968, she married Gary Worrell in a civil marriage before a justice of the peace in Dakota City, NE. For the next several years, they lived in Denver, CO where their two children were born before they moved back to Iowa, first to Morningside in Sioux City, IA then to Smithland, IA so their children could grow up around grandparents and family.
Her faith was important to Karen who was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, IA. After her marriage, she converted to the Catholic faith joining the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City, IA where their marriage was blessed. She later transferred her membership to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oto, IA when the family relocated to Smithland and was active in the parish including serving as a confirmation teacher.
In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, Karen continued to work as a data entry operator until technology eliminated that career. Being resourceful and determined, she created new careers for herself in a variety that ranged from operating a daycare in her home, to working in various office jobs to later becoming a licensed insurance agent.
Karen played piano and accordion beautifully, enjoyed singing, dancing, crocheting, baking, flower gardening and hosting celebrations, but most of all loved visiting and spending time with family. A major highlight of her life was the beautiful dinner party Gary and she hosted last November celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren know they were loved and know what joy they gave her as did the many nieces and nephews of this couple. The world is a lonelier place without the laughter and love of this beautiful soul.
She is survived by her husband Gary Worrell of Smithland, IA; daughter Dana Yockey of LeMars IA; son James Worrell of Smithland, IA; grandchildren Taylor, Brittney and Lexie Yockey; great grandchildren Ember and Spencer; brother Robert (Donna) Buol of Clear Lake, IA; brothers-in-law Tim (Renae) Worrell of Kingsley, IA, Russ (Judy) Worrell of Smithland, IA; sisters-in-law Jean (Skip) Shattuck and Janie (Cliff) Steinhoff of Hornick, IA; Suzanne Worrell Shattuck and Linda Worrell of Sioux City, IA and Pam Worrell of Denver, CO; numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Proceeding her in death were her parents Raymond and Dorothy Buol; brother Danny Buol; sister Kathleen Buol Gideon; mother and father-in-law Archie and Dolores Bernadine (LaCroix) Worrell; brothers- in- law Arch Worrell, Dick Worrell and Wesley Shattuck; and sister-in-law Jessie (Worrell) Loring.
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A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Salix, Iowa. Father Michael Erpelding will officiate; with Committal Services following in the Memorial Park Cemetery of Sioux City, Iowa. A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 25, 2019, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Salix, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home Mapleton, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online www.armstrongfuneral.com.
Karen Marjorie (Buol) Worrell left this life on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Valley Regional Hospital in Brownsville, TX with her loving husband Gary by her bedside. Residents of Smithland, IA, they were at their winter home she loved in Brownsville. Although besieged by numerous medical problems in recent years, Karen fought a valiant battle before the latest diagnosis of liver cancer claimed her life.
Karen, born November 18, 1948, in Hawarden, IA, was the third child of Raymond Albert and Dorothy Irene (Carey) Buol. She was educated in the Hawarden public schools which became West Sioux during her attendance. However, her adventurous spirit led her to decide to spend her senior year with relatives in Oregon and she graduated from Ranier High School. After graduation, she returned to Iowa and trained as a keypunch/data entry operator at WIT in Sioux City, IA. On November 9, 1968, she married Gary Worrell in a civil marriage before a justice of the peace in Dakota City, NE. For the next several years, they lived in Denver, CO where their two children were born before they moved back to Iowa, first to Morningside in Sioux City, IA then to Smithland, IA so their children could grow up around grandparents and family.
Her faith was important to Karen who was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawarden, IA. After her marriage, she converted to the Catholic faith joining the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sioux City, IA where their marriage was blessed. She later transferred her membership to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oto, IA when the family relocated to Smithland and was active in the parish including serving as a confirmation teacher.
In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, Karen continued to work as a data entry operator until technology eliminated that career. Being resourceful and determined, she created new careers for herself in a variety that ranged from operating a daycare in her home, to working in various office jobs to later becoming a licensed insurance agent.
Karen played piano and accordion beautifully, enjoyed singing, dancing, crocheting, baking, flower gardening and hosting celebrations, but most of all loved visiting and spending time with family. A major highlight of her life was the beautiful dinner party Gary and she hosted last November celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren know they were loved and know what joy they gave her as did the many nieces and nephews of this couple. The world is a lonelier place without the laughter and love of this beautiful soul.
She is survived by her husband Gary Worrell of Smithland, IA; daughter Dana Yockey of LeMars IA; son James Worrell of Smithland, IA; grandchildren Taylor, Brittney and Lexie Yockey; great grandchildren Ember and Spencer; brother Robert (Donna) Buol of Clear Lake, IA; brothers-in-law Tim (Renae) Worrell of Kingsley, IA, Russ (Judy) Worrell of Smithland, IA; sisters-in-law Jean (Skip) Shattuck and Janie (Cliff) Steinhoff of Hornick, IA; Suzanne Worrell Shattuck and Linda Worrell of Sioux City, IA and Pam Worrell of Denver, CO; numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Proceeding her in death were her parents Raymond and Dorothy Buol; brother Danny Buol; sister Kathleen Buol Gideon; mother and father-in-law Archie and Dolores Bernadine (LaCroix) Worrell; brothers- in- law Arch Worrell, Dick Worrell and Wesley Shattuck; and sister-in-law Jessie (Worrell) Loring.
Previous Events
Visitation
Monday
25
Mar
5:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
510 Tipton Street
Salix, IA 51052
Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday
26
Mar
10:30 AM
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
510 Tipton Street
Salix, IA 51052
Cemetery Details
Location
Memorial Park Cemetery
6605 Morningside Ave.
Sioux City, IA 51106
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