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Sunday, August 31, 2025
Karen Rae Opheim Lewis
Age: 67
City: Independence
Funeral Home
Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Karen Rae Opheim Lewis
Karen Rae Opheim Lewis
Independence
Karen Rae Opheim Lewis, 67, of Independence and formerly of Tama, passed away Friday, August 29, 2025 at West Village Care Center in Independence. Funeral Services will be held Friday, September 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with a luncheon to follow at the church. Interment will be at St. Olaf Cemetery in Bode, Iowa at 3:30 PM. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.
Survivors include her three daughters, Jamie Kae Welsh of Ankeny and sons, Kyler and Karter Welsh, Shawna Marie (Drew) Burkhardt of Marion and daughters, Ava and Brynlee Burkhardt, and Kelly Diane (Michael) Saathoff of Hazleton and sons, Weston and Wilson Saathoff; brothers, Steve (Becky) Opheim of Henderson, Nev., and Mark (Katie) Opheim of Omaha, Neb.; one sister, Angie (Kirk) Baird of Sergeant Bluff; sister-in-law, Kathy Opheim of Toledo; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and -nephews; and great-great-nieces and -nephews.

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