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Vandeventer, Karen L.
Karen L. Vandeventer, 70, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, March 10, 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital following a short illness. A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 1 to 2 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with a memorial service beginning at 2 p.m. Rev. Harlan Gillespie will officiate. Private inurnment will take place at the St. Paul's United Methodist Church Columbarium.
The daughter of Robert Stanton and Pearl Leneve (Jacobson) Erickson, Karen was born November 25, 1941 in Beardstown, Ill. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan College, where she was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota sorority. She was united in marriage to James Edward Vandeventer on June 12, 1965 in Springfield, Ill.
She began her working career pursuing her passion in music as a teacher at schools in Illinois, Bettendorf and Urbandale. She stopped teaching at the time she and Jim began their family. She later worked in sales at Younker's and in the office for Dr. Primmer. She continued to pursue her love for music while teaching piano lessons and directed a church youth choir.
She enjoyed gardening, crafts, reading, volunteer work and exercising. She was a member of TTT, St. Paul's United Methodist Church and the Compass Class. Above all her greatest enjoyment was time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.
Surviving are her husband, James; her daughters, Amy Vandeventer-Gasser and husband Edward of Fishers, Ind., and Lori Vandeventer of Cedar Rapids; her grandchildren, James Stanton and Kathryn Grace; and her sister, Pamela Futhey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Pearl Erickson.
The family would like to thank the nursing staffs of St. Luke's CCU and 5 Center, Dr. Stankovich and Karen's friends from Compass Class.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Karen's honor may be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church or to the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation.
Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Karen's family on our webpage, under Obituaries.
Published March 13, 2012 in The Gazette
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