Visitation Ohde Funeral Home, Manning Wednesday, July 10, 2019 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Manning, Iowa
Visitation will resume Thursday morning at 9:30 AM.
Funeral Service Ohde Funeral Home, Manning Thursday, July 11, 2019 10:30 AM Manning
Interment will follow at Manning Cemetery.
Alison Ohde River, Celebrant
Recorded Music "Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood Mac "Amazing Grace" "Take It Easy" Eagles
Casketbearers: Brian Bruch, Mike Bruch, Pete Joens, Roger Wagner, Bret Haubrich, Austin Haubrich
Honorary Casketbearers: Randy Bruch, Dusty Bruch, Eric Fara, Russell Bruhn

Karen Kay, daughter of Roland and Wynona (Dawson) King, was born March 7, 1941, at Gray, Iowa. She graduated from Manning High School in 1959 and completed a business training program in Denver, Colorado.

She married Jim Pruitt (1960) in Seattle, Washington, and Allen Vennink (1967) in Manning. Both unions ended in divorce. Her career was diverse in scope and geography, including United Airlines in San Francisco, California, Bell Telephone in Seattle and Carroll, Iowa, and the U.S. Post Office in Gray, Iowa. She was also self-employed as a farmer and an auto and furniture upholsterer.

Karen was multi-talented in countless ways, turning bolts of fabric into designer-caliber clothing, seat covers, curtains and more. She worked shoulder-to-shoulder with her father on the farm, while working full-time jobs in town. Her energy and determination were boundless, and she was capable of outworking anyone in a seed corn cap. There wasn't a vegetable she couldn't can or a fruit she couldn't jam. She was wildly hilarious and occasionally cantankerous, drawing a line in the sand in no uncertain terms. In a world that is often confusing, Karen let you know exactly where you stood. She enjoyed good books, soft cats, big dogs, classic rock music, tasty meals and a good debate.

Karen died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at her home in rural Audubon County. She was 78 years, and 4 months of age. She will be missed by everyone who enjoyed her quick wit and clever discussions.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Gary King (1990). Survivors include her children and their spouses: Tamera (Sam) Schlueter of Hastings, Nebraska, and Tom Vennink and Amy Haubrich of Manning; grandsons Brett (Cassie) Schlueter of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Gregg (Rachel) Schlueter of Omaha, Nebraska; great-grandchildren Nora and Otto of Omaha, and Gus of Oklahoma City; sister Charlotte Hopper of Storm Lake; brother Kenny King; and numerous nieces and nephews.

1959 MHS graduates: Vivian Adamson, Glen Ahrendsen, Shirley Beckman, Hans "Junior" Bonnesen, Richard Bowers, Ronald Bromert, Wayne Brus, Beverly Dalgety, Sandra Dammann (salutatorian), Jeanette Fink, Allan Fonken, Mary Frahm, William Genzen, Dennis Grimm, Joel Grundmeier, Larry Handlos, Keith Hass, Paul Hass, Linda Heithoff (valedictorian), Betty Hoffman, Barbara Johnson, Julia Johnson, Bernard Jones, Karen King, Philip Knaack, Rollyn Koepke, Wanda Kolman, Nancy Loftus, Ronald Mahnke, Lorraine Martens, Gary Monson, Evans Samuel Musfeldt, Jay Musfeldt, Sharon Niederfrank, Allen Nissen, David Peters, Keith Pfannkuch, Roger Reinke, Larry Rix, Larry Rowedder, Susan Rowedder, Carlene Schrum, Sharon Schrum, Vernon Sonksen, Carol Spieker, Stanley Spies, Clifford Stammer, Mary Steffes, Larry Vehrs, Ronald Vogl, Sylvia Vollstedt, Linda Warner

1959 former students: Dennis Backhaus, Darlene Breidert, Gary Brockelsby, Lorraine Christensen, Helen Dethlefsen, Phyllis Fritz, Richard Hinners, Mary Jentsch, Jolene Koch, Larry Martens, James Middendorf, Ronald Mohr, Donna Mundt, Edward Neubaum, Linda Paulsen, Rose Porter, Michael Schoeppner, Lavina Seals, David Sextro, Kay Stangl, Larry Stangl, Gary Tigges, Carmen Weifenbach, Marilee White, Marilyn Wyatt