Karen F. Nicholas

Karen Frances Nicholas, daughter of Donald Fagen Clark and Clara Lucile Anschutz Clark, was born July 3, 1937 at Jamaica, Iowa and died March 20, 2011 at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa, at the age of 73 years. Karen graduated from Jamaica High School in 1955. On August 28, 1955, she was united in marriage with Bill Nicholas. To this union, three daughters were born: Denise, Rhonda and Lori. The couple lived in Iowa City until 1964 when they moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. While living in Chattanooga, Karen worked five years for the Public Library. In August of 1977 the family moved to Bayard for a year and then in 1978, the family moved to Jamaica, Iowa. For five years Karen provided daycare in her home and for five years owned and operated the Corner Cupboard Caf with Jackie Frantum. She had also worked at Perry Day Care. In 1992 she began working as a para educator with the Panorama Schools until her retirement in 2005. Even after that, she continued to volunteer with the school until she quit to care for Bill. Karen was very involved with her family and their many activities. She dearly loved her grandchildren and was very supportive of them. Karen enjoyed True Crime books, Court TV, crossword puzzles, and lately, was a real fan of the Food Network. Karen enjoyed being with people, going out with friends to eat, and found joy with her friends at Tojo's in Jamaica, sharing in "group-therapy". She was a former member of Jamaica Union Church, Jamaica Ladies Auxiliary, and was a member of First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Along with Bill, she was active with the Jamaica Senior Citizens Community Building and the Jamaica Centennial Celebration in 1982 with raising funds. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bill March 19, 2008, and sister Marlene Bennink. She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her three daughters, Denise Park, Rhonda Nelson and husband Curt all of Jamaica, IA Lori Trout and husband Rob of Des Moines, IA; six grandchildren: Kristi Wiederien and her husband Ron; Kelly Villalobos; Kyle Park; Megan, Molly and Nicholas Nelson and 9 great-grandchildren: Aaron, Anthony and Austin Rodriguez; Ashley, Trent and Megan Wiederien; Devin, Christopher and Alexa Villalobos; brother Ronald Clark and his wife Genny of Atlanta, GA; sister Linda Holmes and her husband Douglas of Algona, IA; brothers-in-law Duane Bennink and his wife Judy of Ames, IA; Ed Nicholas of Perry, IA; Harold Nicholas of St. Joseph, MO; Daniel Nicholas and his wife Patricia of Daytona Beach, FL; Frank Nicholas of Elizabeth, NJ; sisters-in-law Norma Hull of Perry, IA; Donna Young and her husband Doug of Sylmar, CA; and Lynda Nicholas of Lake Elizabeth, CA; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Memorials in her name made to the family for future distribution and may be left at Hastings Funeral Home.