Karen Ann Bryer
Words cannot express the loss that I feel after learning of Karen's death. She & I worked together for many years when we lived in Des Moines and she was a true blue friend and confidante. In later years we reconnected when we both moved to the Cedar Rapids area. Memories of Karen Bryer will truly be cherished for the rest of my life.
Jim Clingman
Ottumwa
IA
Karen and I worked together. She was a great person. She will be remembered with cheer in her eyes.
Alice Hanson
Mechanicsville
IA
Karen was the kindest woman I have known. I had the honor of working with her for some time and I will always remember her sweet, generous nature and her loving smile. Karen will truly be missed.
Erin Anderson
Cedar Rapids
IA
Karen and I became good friends working at MCI(Verizon) together for 8 years. She was always so happy in everything she did. I enjoyed our time together as friends because I could always count on feeling good after talking to her. I dont remember a time she wasnt smiling. God must have needed a very Happy angel to have take her from us. Rest forever in peace and happiness Karen. I will miss you greatly. Tanya
Tanya Buchtela
Vinton
IA
I had the great pleasure of working with Karen, she always had a kind word to say, and was always cheerful no matter what. Her kind soul will be sorely missed! Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
Dawn Lundvall
Vinton
IA
NO words can express the loss .Karen was an exceptional Lady who gave her best to all always .. I was honored to know her
Petie Lashbrook
oxford junction
IA
I worked with Karen for many years and found her to be the most positive, delightful, inspiring woman. I was honored to know her and be a part of her life.
Jen Jubeck
Lisbon
IA
I worked with Karen in the 323 MCI building and we both worked at the 500 Verizon building untill her passing. I will always remmeber her great personality and she always had a smile on her face.. She would stop and say hi to us in the mail support services room every day ... we will greatly miss her and are very sad to lose her.. She surely is an angle and i know she went straight up to heaven in a shineing beam of holy light. Karen , We love you and miss you dearly... and will never forget you...
carol beaman
manchester
IA
Karen was a valued and trusted member of the Theatre Cedar Rapids family for as long as I can remember. She gave her all wherever her talents were needed, and always with a smile. I just talked to her a couple weeks ago at opening night of "High School Musical" and she was her usual chipper self. I'm just floored that she's gone. TCR has lost a bright star. She will be missed, but more importantly, remembered fondly.
Diana Nollen
Cedar Rapids
IA
Karen: what a fun, kind, caring and sweet person. I first knew Karen through our involvement at TCR and as a regular City News customer (needing my regular dose of chocolate and DM Register). Karen truly always had a smile on her face and had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel better. During my ownership of Center Stage, I was so fortunate to have Karen work during our seasonal rushes. Once again, she was fun, kind, caring and sweet; able to quiet our steady stream of last-minute screaming customers and provide a bit of calm over the retail storm. And I can honestly say I have never met someone with better phone skills than Karen! After moving to West Des Moines, I only chatted with Karen a bit until a long conversation last fall post-flood. True to form, she was upbeat and positive about the tragedy that had surrounded the community and washed away her home. We probably all could learn from her positive attitude and spirit. I will truly miss Karen.
Jim Miller
West Des Moines
IA
I only had the pleasure of knowing Karen for a year, but her ever present optimism, and cheer will be missed.
Laurel Curl
Marion
IA
Karen and I both started TCR at the same time for "Fiddle On The Roof" back in 1989, and we work on a lot of back stage crews for the next 5 years, we even Co-Stage managed "Side By Side By Sondheim", she was so great to work with. Remember TinkerBell! Also remember all the hard work "The Group" did for "GodSpell" creating that fantistic set without a designer, after Wid left. She will be greatly missed. I also want to thank her for the opportunity to help her fix up her new trailer after her house was flooded last year. My prayer and thoughts are with everyone.
Jane Jiroutek
Cedar Rapids,
IA
Karen was a very thoughtful, caring and positive person. A year ago she lost her home in the flood. She said, when one door closes another one opens. She bounced back and made a new home. She was a pleasure to work with and will be dearly missed. Everyone that knew her enjoyed her friendly smile and kind heart.
Tracy Batcheller
Cedar Rapids
IA
My condolences goes out to her brother, Jody. I never met you Jody, however Karen and I ate lunch together everyday at Verizon. I just wanted you to know, Jody she said the best time in her life is when you come get her to go home for Christmas. Also, my condolences go out to every one at TCR. She always talked about her friends there. She really loved working with the group.I am so sad to lose such a good friend. Like everyone else has wrote, she was always so positive and cheerful. Even with the loss of her home during the flood,did not get her down. Karen, I am so sad that we will never eat lunch together again. I have known her since MCI and then moving to Verizon conferencing. She always told me, if she could put a smile on my face, then that made her day. The most funniest memory, that I'll alway cherish, is for some reason at times, I'd call her Beth instead of Karen. With her wonderful wit, she would say just let me know what my name is for today,so I can answer you.Karen,I love and miss you so much.I'll miss your smile and our talk about purses and wallets. We both liked purses and wallets of different colors, and she had some pretty ones. When I finally got the purple wallet and purse I had wanted she was so happy. God, you have a very special angel with you now, and I know heaven must be glowing now with her beautiful smile. Karen, you will be greatly missed. Debbie Briley
Debbie Briley
Cedar Rapids
IA
It was a great pleasure to work with Karen especially on Saturday nights at Verizon Conferencing as it was slow and we got to chat quite a bit, she always had such nice things to say about everyone and everything. Karen you will be greatly missed. Julie Mundy
Julie Mundy
mechanicsville
IA
I was in the training class at Verizon Business with Karen which was at the same time as the flood took her home. She was always so upbeat and positive even through such a hard time in her life. I will always remember her as one of the most generous and happy people I have ever met. God Bless you Karen. You will be greatly missed by many.
Melanie Mittan
Cedar Rapids
IA
Karen was a very sweet and loving lady. She was always so friendly and had a smile on her face everyday. She will be missed greatly.
Angie Jones
Marion
IA
I worked with Karen at Verizon. Karen was such a caring, giving person. Her smile and positive attitude are what set her apart. She is truly an example for the rest of us to follow. Her attitude after losing her home was unbelievable. She said to me "I did my crying last night and now I will go forward and not look back", and she didn't. She truly was an inspiration. She will be missed. Rest well my friend.
Sharon Rogers
Vinton
IA
Always upbeat. Always positive. Always with a smile. That's how I'll remember Karen...
Jeff Ircink
Los Angeles
CA
Karen must have invented the light bulb! When she entered a room and smiled, it would light up the place even at night without lamps turned on! What a smile! It was clear to me having met Karen at Theatre Cedar Rapids in mid 1980 that she was the personification of NICE. And through the years, that smile was always there to greet me like an old friend, regardless of any personal battles she might be waging privately. How can anyone NOT miss her? Much too young to be taken from us. But perhaps the Lord needed her back to remind Him how to build a soul for a new child that could touch so many people in positive ways as Karen has. On a summer night when I look toward the heavens and notice the many stars, I will no doubt see a brighter area where Karen must have just entered an angelic room and smiled.
Stephen Eckert
Cedar Rapids
IA
I think of Karen helping with my make-up, and bringing Norman Bulanski and Mr. Bumble to life. Karen was a beautiful person and she will be greatly missed at Theatre Cedar Rapids. God bless her and all of those she touched.
Brian S. Anderson
Cedar Rapids
IA
I just heard of Karen's passing. My deepest sympathy's go out to her Brother and Nephew. Karen was an amazing person who had a heart of gold. I met Karen back in 1988 while working on Peter Pan. She took me under her wing and watched out for me. Karen had an un-limited amount of love to share with the world. Always taking the time to listen to a kid in the throws of teenage angst. Karen is and always will be a very important person in my life. Karen taught me how to be my own person, and to never doubt who I am or that I have value. When I had problems it was Karen that I would call, and she would come running with a big hug and just the right words to say. I'll never forget all that she has done for me or the Love that she shared. Karen will be very much missed in every life that she has touched.
Tony Otto
Minneapolis
MN
I so enjoyed working with Karen. We spent many happy times talking books and movies. She will be greatly missed by all of us that she touched at work. Karen..I am going to the movie in November for both of us!!!
Jeanne Smith
Cedar Rapids
IA
I remember Karen as always having a smile and a positive attitude in spite of all she went through...she was a pleasure to work with at Verizon and will be missed.
Jane Franks
Cedar Rapids
IA
I saw Karen just recently at the book store. She was so upbeat, as usual, even though she had lost her home in the flood. I enjoyed working with Karen at Center Stage as she was a very positive, pleasant, fun and caring person. I agree with all that my son, Jim Miller, said in his note. We all could learn from Karen.
Jackie Thomas
Iowa City
IA
I worked with Karen at City News , and am saddened by her passing. She was a good, fun person and will be missed. My condolences to her family and loved ones.