Obituary of Karen J. Brick

West Branch, Iowa

God opened the gates of Heaven on December 16, 2024, to welcome Karen J. Brick into the Garden of Love, a place she embraced as a symbol of dignity and grace. Karen passed away peacefully at the University of Iowa Hospital, Downtown Campus, at the age of 84.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Private family graveside services will follow on Friday at West Branch Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Karen Brick Memorial Fund.

Karen was born on August 9, 1940, in Clarence, Iowa, the youngest of five children of Karl and Edna (Dahl) Krafock. She graduated from Clarence High School in 1958, where she played guard for the Clarence Cardinals State Champion basketball teams of 1955, 1956, and 1957. On November 22, 1958, she married Marvin Brick in Kahoka, Missouri, beginning a lifelong partnership.

Karen worked locally at Eastside Cafe and Hales and Hunter (Cargill) while raising a young family.  She later worked for NCS/Pearson for 22 years before retiring in 2006. She enjoyed traveling, boating, Harley Davidson motorcycle rides, flying in the airplane piloted by her husband, watching her boys race stock cars, snowmobiling, and antique cars. She also loved shopping with Lu and celebrated Christmas and Halloween as her favorite holidays. Karen was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch.

Karen’s memory lives on through her loving family: her husband, Marvin, of West Branch; three children, Lu Miles (Dave Bonner) of Shueyville, Darrall Brick (Nicki) of West Branch,   and Gerry Brick (Leslie) of West Branch; three grandchildren, Amy Koehn (Daren), Kendra Miles (Chad Johnson), and Dawson Brick and four great-grandchildren: Brackyn, Kallyn, Joryn, and Kinnick.

She is also survived by her brother, Verlyn Krafock (Janis); sisters-in-laws, Arlene Krafock and Marlene Gann, and many nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Karl and Edna Krafock; two sisters: Bethany and Phyllis, brother Bricen, and brother-in-laws, Charles Gann and Marty Brick. 

A girl from a small town, she had a desire for the outside. Housework and the kitchen weren’t a priority. The snow drifts and icicles in winter, flowers with a warm breeze of summer -  always put a smile on the day.