Erion, Karen (Gates) 1954 - 2023
ERION, GATES, FREUND, KAMRATH, WILSON, HOPP
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/24/2023 at 10:48:28
Karen Erion, age 68, of Decorah began her adventure of a lifetime to her heavenly home on Friday morning, February 17, 2023, surrounded by family. As spoken by a four-year-old loved one, “She became an angel and will be watching over us now.”
Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in the St. Benedict Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 West Main St. in Decorah and one hour before the service on Saturday at the church. There will be a prayer service held at 2:15 p.m. before the visitation.
There will also be a celebration of Karen's life held this spring at Oneota Country Club. Date and time will be announced closer to spring.
Karen was born on July 23, 1954, in New Hampton, Iowa to Dale and Elaine Gates. She grew up and graduated from New Hampton High School in 1972. It was there she met her future husband, Randy Erion. Upon graduation, she thoroughly enjoyed her time at NIACC and the University of Northern Iowa where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education. She then moved to Decorah to begin her job of 34 years teaching special education at John Cline Elementary School. While working, she earned a master’s degree in Special Education. She retired as a “Bright Spot” in 2010.
She married Randy Erion at her childhood home on December 25, 1980. Over the next 11 years, they were blessed with two daughters, Abby and Lainey, and always had at least one family dog.
Karen could be found golfing at Oneota Golf Course and was a club champion in 1990s. She enjoyed walking through the campground, lunching with her friends, and laughing with her siblings over a plate of nachos. She kept active by playing pickleball, playing cards, subbing in a bowling league, and cheering at her nephews’ athletic events. She volunteered with RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) and St. Benedict Catholic Church making layettes, kid dresses, distributing blood drive posters around town, and delivering meals to those in need. She especially cherished her time volunteering at Sunflower Child Care rocking the babies. However, the highlight of her retirement was the bus trips she took with her friends all over the country, including Maine, Washington DC, the Grand Canyon, and New Orleans.
Her family meant everything to her. She enjoyed traveling to see her children, as well as traveling with her children. She was the type of person who stopped to smell the roses and take in the wonders of this world. To her family, she is known as “Karen Crocker” for her lack of cooking skills and her inability to read and follow recipes. What she lacked in domestic skills, she made up for as the household handywoman. She was known for her wood-burned artwork and beautifully sewn gifts.
Karen had more best friends than anyone and was loved by many. She was a fantastic listener and had the gift of gab. Just ask Randy, who had to wait hours over the years for her to finish conversations and leave social events. She had a bird in her throat and ants in her pants causing her to constantly sing and dance. As a faithful servant of the Lord, she would give her time and prayers to anyone in need. And don’t you worry, if you ever helped her, you would receive a handwritten thank you note, even in her worst state.
She will be deeply missed by her husband of 42 years, Randy Erion, their children Abby (Dave Freund) Erion of Robins and Lainey (Brad) Kamrath of Seattle, WA; siblings Susan Gates of North Liberty, John (Mary) Gates of Cedar Rapids, Lisa (Robert) Wilson of Marion, and Kim (Lynn) Hopp of New Hampton, as well as many nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her best friends of 45 years and second family, Mike and Marcy Erickson of Decorah and their son, Andy (Laura) Erickson of Urbandale.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Elaine and Dale Gates and stepmother, Ramona Gates, and in-laws, Orlo and Delors Erion.
We will always be reminded of Karen when we see rainbows and butterflies.
A special thank you to Mayo Clinic’s Oncology team, nursing aide and bonus-daughter, Keana Jacobsen of Conover, and Winneshiek Medical Center’s Home Health & Hospice team.
Memorials may be given to:
Winneshiek County Celebration of Life (WCCOL)
PO Box 314
Decorah, Iowa 52101Humane Society of Northeast Iowa
2345 Millennium Rd
Decorah, IA 52101
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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