Memorial

Karen May Classon, of Hiawatha, Iowa, passed away Sunday, August 18, 2019, at Corridor Crossing Place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa after an 11 year battle of Alzheimer’s Disease. Friends can visit with the family on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, from 4-7pm at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 10:30am at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial will be in Alden Cemetery.

Karen was born on March 10, 1940, in Iowa Falls, Iowa to Oscar and May Peterson of Popejoy, Iowa.  She graduated from Popejoy High School in 1957. Upon graduation, Karen attended Ellsworth Community College before marrying her husband, Gary Classon on December 27, 1958, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Soon afterwards, Karen and Gary moved to Hiawatha, Iowa, where they would live for the next 60 years and raise their family. Karen worked at Sears in Lindale Plaza for 30 years, retiring in 1995.  

Karen was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan attending many Iowa Girls’ Basketball games cheering on the Hawks. She was a member of Hope United Church of Christ for over 50 years where she was very active and served on many committees. Karen enjoyed traveling with her husband, Gary, and they went on several cruises together. Her last big trip was to England with her husband, Gary, along with her daughter Lorrie, and grandson, Ben.

Above all, Karen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren and attending their activities.

Karen is survived by her husband Gary, of 60 years; son Mark (Darla) Classon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; daughter Lorrie (Kevin) Popik of Norcross, Georgia; grandsons Joe Classon of Marion, Iowa and Ben James, of Norcross, Georgia; granddaughters Debbie Classon of West Des Moines, Iowa and Gabrielle Onarheim of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Jim Peterson, Mike Peterson, and sisters Nellie White and infant Susan Peterson. The family wants to thank the staff at the Meadow View Assisted Memory Care and Corridor Crossing Place for their devoted care of Karen for over three years, as well as to the Essence of Life Hospice for making her last few months comfortable. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Karen’s name to be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.