PAYNE, Karen K. 1942-2010

PAYNE

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson
Date: 2/10/2010 at 12:22:11

Karen Kay (Hagen) Payne, longtime resident of Northwood, passed away Saturday (Feb. 6, 2010) at home in Sacramento, Calif., after a brief battle with lung cancer.

Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Sacramento, Calif., with Pastor Carl Hoppman officiating.

A memorial service will be held in the Northwood community this summer followed by her interment in the Manly Cemetery.

Karen Kay Hagen was born on Feb. 19, 1942, in Manly, to Oliver I. Hagen and Lottie L. (Van Riper) Hagen. She attended Manly schools and graduated in 1960. She was greatly anticipating the 50th class reunion this June.

On March 10, 1964, Karen married Raymond Keeble and became step-mother to Gail, Colin, Michael and Steven. Born to this union was a daughter, Tracy. This marriage dissolved in 1972.

In August 1976, Karen married the love of her life, Cecil Emerson "Emmy" Payne and became the stepmother of Jacque and Scott. Her beloved husband died on Dec. 18, 1986, of leukemia.

Karen received an associate of arts degree from NIACC and worked for the medical records department of Mercy Hospital for many years. She later moved to Carson City, Nev., and worked as an office manager for Dr. Craig Gundmunsen. She later retired due to health issues and resided in Sacramento, Calif. with her daughter.

In 2002 she returned to Iowa and resided in Northwood. She spent much of her time writing poetry and sharing with her friends both in person and on-line. Last spring she returned to Sacramento to again reside with her daughter and family. It was there that she passed away.

In June 1996 Karen's daughter, Tracy, married John Etchison of Sacramento, Calif., and she then became Grandma to John's children, Brandon, Mary, Ben and Blake. Karen became grandmother to Katrina "Katy" Kay, born on Karen's birthday in 1997. Karen adored this particular "birthday present." She was later blessed with one more granddaughter, Sierra Leone, born in June 2006. She was also "Aunt Karen" to 29 nieces and nephews and great aunt to many more.

Karen will be remembered for two things: her faith and her love of family and friends. Her love of family and friends was only superseded by her faith which was evident to all who knew her and is well documented on her poetry Web site, lovingly maintained by her dear friends, Shy and Siggy.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Oliver and Lottie; and by brothers, Orville and Paul; and sisters, Mavis, Marlene (Etchison) and Doris (Smith). She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Emmy.

She is survived by one sister, Leone Christiansen, of Mason City. She is survived by her daughter, Tracy, and her husband, John. She is also survived by all her stepchildren and their families. She is survived by her granddaughters, Katy and Sierra, as well as all her stepgrandchildren.

[Mason City Globe Gazette online, Wed., February 10, 2010]