Karen M. Peshel

Karen M. Peshel

Cedar Rapids

Karen M. Peshel, 80, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, at her home. A visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at the funeral home. Per the family’s wishes, the casket will remain closed for visitation and service. Burial will follow the service at the Linwood Cemetery Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids.

Karen was born Aug. 3, 1942, in rural Dysart, Iowa, the daughter of Donald and Ethel (Dengler) Petersen. She graduated from Dysart-Geneseo High School and went on to attend Gates Business School in Waterloo, Iowa. Karen was united in marriage to Herbert Dean Peshel on Oct. 7, 1961, in Dysart. She worked briefly at Quaker Oats, and then as a trial court clerk for Linn County and the State of Iowa Judicial Branch until her retirement in 2005. Karen was an avid Hawkeye fan, and she loved Elvis, animals, horse racing, feeding birds and gardening. She was a loving wife, mother and friend.

Survivors include her children, Jennifer Kaska and Lillie Peshel, both of Cedar Rapids; sisters-in-law, Pam Petersen and Andrea Petersen, both of Vinton, Iowa; in-laws, Lois Johnson of Waterloo, Sharon (Dennis) Brooks of West Des Moines, Larry Peshel of Garwin and Karen (Duane) Speicher of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces and nephews, and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; parents, Donald and Ethel Petersen; brothers, Dale and Craig Petersen; and son-in-law, Charles V. Kaska.

Please share a memory of Karen at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.