Karen Warner

KAREN WARNER

Cedar Rapids

Karen J. (Boss) Warner, 58, went home to be with God on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015. She lost her hard-fought battle with cancer. She was at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha when she died. She will be cremated and will be buried in Coggon Cemetery, Coggon, Iowa. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21. Any family and friends may attend. A memorial service will be held following the burial at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Lovely Lane United Methodist Church. Pastor Paul and Pastor Gayle Wilcox will officiate. The church is located at 2424 42nd St. NE, just east of Kennedy High School. A light lunch will follow in the dining room. Arrangements entrusted to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Karen was born on Aug. 18, 1956, to Harold and Beulah (McCann) Boss. Her family farmed just west of Coggon, but they lived in town. She was educated in Coggon, Troy Mills and North-Linn. She graduated from North-Linn High School as valedictorian of the class of 1974. She then went to Iowa State University and graduated in 1978 with a bachelor of science degree in food technology. She got all As except two Bs, which were in business law. She worked in the microbiology field most of her working career.

Karen married Leonard Warner on Sept. 26, 1987. They had many fun and happy times over the 27 and a half years. There were a few sad times, also. She was able to fulfill her wish to go to Alaska when she and Leonard spent two weeks in Alaska in 2013, part on land and part on water on a Princess Cruise Ship. In 2014, she got all her hours and classes completed to receive the title of master gardener. Karen had many beautiful flower beds and spent many hours working with her flowers. She was well known for baking cookies for many holidays including baking more than 15 dozen cookies to give to friends and family. She was well known for her pies also, which were all made from scratch.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard; and many cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and extended family; her special friends, Bob and Barb and Steve and Deb; as well as many other friends.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Judy Granquist, and husband, Tom.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harold W. Boss; and her mother, Beulah J. Boss; as well as cousins, aunts, uncles and three special aunts, Wanda Gardner, Beryl Brooke and Edna Greener; and her second mother, Donna Mangold.

She was also preceded in death by her father and mother-in-law, Charles H. Warner and Jean L. Warner of Clinton.

A big thank you from the Hall Perrine Cancer Center's excellent staff in every department that Karen worked with, Dr. Nabi and staff, the many people that sent cards and called Karen, the staff of the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha.

A super big thank you to Dr. Mary Anne Nelson (Karen's sis) for all the help she gave to the Boss and Warner families over the years.

Memorial donations in Karen's honor may be directed to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Lovely Lane United Methodist Church or to a charity of the donor's choosing.