Karen Clark Mammen, 1942-2005

MAMMEN, CLARK

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/21/2009 at 14:36:38

Karen Elaine Clark, daughter of Merlyn and Orva (Lee) Clark, was born August 15th, 1942, in Estherville, Iowa at Coleman Hospital. She grew up and lived most her life in the town of Wallingford, Iowa. She received her education in the Wallingford and Estherville schools. She graduated from high school in May 1960. She was a lifetime member of the Wallingford Lutheran Church.

On May 18th, 1961, she was united in marriage to Bill Mammen of Graettinger, Iowa. Their wedding ceremony was held in the Wallingford Lutheran Church, and thereafter they made their home in the town of Wallingford. October 8th, 1962, they became the proud parents of a baby girl they named Joan Elaine.

Along with being a wife, mother and homemaker, Karen possessed many talents. She played piano and organ beautifully, mostly by ear. She could blow on a harmonica, strum a guitar, and squeeze an accordion. She enjoyed many kinds of music and mostly listened to country/western songs. She used to sew, knit beautiful Afghans, paint pretty pictures, and put together different crafts.

Karen was an animal lover. She believed a pet's place was in the home. She was a "mother" to a variety of dogs and cats, not to mention a few farm animals along the way and of course the gamecocks she helped Bill raise. Her passion for cats led her to raise and sell purebred Himalayans for a while. Her wardrobe consisted of numerous sweaters, t-shirts, sweatshirts and jewelry that represented her love for cats.

Opportunity came for Karen when under the advice of her mother, Orva Clark, she took a Civil Service test, passed it and became employed by the United States postal service in the mid-1970's,. Her first duties were to work in the Wallingford post office as a part time on call assistant for good friend Nathalie Anderson. In 1978, Karen was called to go fill in as a temporary clerk for the Estherville post office. Proven to be efficient and quick learning, Estherville then never let her return to Wallingford and she became permanently employed there for 27 years. Karen retired from there in August 2002, when she turned 60 years old. She enjoyed her work and made many good friends there through the years.

In July of 1998, Karen and Bill moved to an acreage east of Estherville where they built a new home to live closer to Joan and her family. Enjoying life in the country they raised some cattle, gained a few more cats, and had a faithful dog and of course the "poultry" from ducks to geese to turkeys and for always the chickens. For her 59th birthday, Bill surprised Karen with a miniature donkey that she named Libby. With her stubborn temperament and silly actions she brought many moments of entertainment and smiles to Karen when she watched her" do chores" with Bill.

Grateful in sharing her life and her interests are her husband Bill of Estherville; daughter Joan, her husband Jay Ingvall and their two sons, Allen (13) and Matthew (11) of Estherville; mother, Orva Kaltved of Estherville. The oldest daughter of Merlyn and Orva Clark and big sister to Joyce Hanson and her husband, Larry of Des Moines, Iowa; Maureen Clark of Wallingford;, and Sheri Behrends and her husband, Gerry of Wallingford. "Aunt Karen" to many nieces and nephews. She enjoyed a warm cup of coffee and pleasant conversation with a good friend. She was easy and fun to talk to. She appreciated a good story and an occasional practical joke. She had said more than once" When you live with Bill Mammen, it helps to have a sense of humor."

Life wasn't always good. My mother endured several life threatening health problems as well as some of the hardships that come with life itself. She stood strong and overcame the things that she was faced with and lived her life to the fullest. Our home was often filled with love and laughter. Our door was always open to close friends, loving family, or a perfect stranger just for a change of pace.'

We spent countless hours talking about everything we knew of. She once said to me that she thought she might die of cancer one day. Little did we know it would be this type and this soon? She will be missed.

Go in Peace my mother, my friend.
Story written by: Joan Ingvall