Benesh, Karen K. (Kudrna)

Karen K. (Kudrna) Benesh, 61, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died on Sunday, April 14, 2013, in her home. Memorial service: 10 a.m. Monday, April 22, 2013, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends an hour prior to the service. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her mother, Lois Kudrna of Center Point; daughters, Shira (Kyle Woltman) Tedesco of Cedar Rapids, and Sari (Jeff) Brown of Durango, Colo.; brothers, Gary (Joanne) Kudrna of Pleasant Hill, and Kevin (Kristy) Kudrna of Delhi; sisters, Karol (Reggie) Crumes of Altoona, Susan (Bill) Nash of Keokuk, and Kimberly (Steve) Simpson of Holmes Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren, Zachary, Bianca, Micaela, Tyler, and Bethany; great-granddaughter, Lianna; a lifelong friend, Dave Cleppe of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Tony Kudrna; and brother, Gregory Kudrna.

Karen was born on July 30, 1951, the daughter of Tony and Lois Kudrna, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Center Point High School in 1969. Karen worked at Rockwell Collins, Norrand, P.S.I. Group, subcontractor for the U.S. Post Office, and a bartender at Chuck & Dales, Bob's Hideaway, and the Starlight. She loved reading, doing crosswords, watching movies and sports, especially basketball, and collected Gone With the Wind memorabilia. She was an avid fan of Bobbie Knight.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Diabetes Foundation in memory of Karen.

Please sign the online guest book to Karen at under obituaries.

Published April 17, 2013, in The Gazette