Karen Kinney

Karen Kinney, age 80 of Perry, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at her home in Perry. A Private family service will be held with burial will be in the Richland Township Cemetery at Bagley. Memorials will be given to Perry Bible Church or the Jamaica Community Center and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home & Cremation Care. Karen Rae Kinney was born October 24, 1939 at Jefferson IA to Henry and Madie (Hoffman) Hess. She was the youngest of three daughters and grew up in the Linden, Panora and Jamaica farm communities. She knew what it was to ride the school bus, do chores', walk beans, detassel corn, sing in the church choir, attend youth group and be part of the basketball team. Karen graduated from Jamaica High School in 1956. She continued her education at Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA. She married Gene Kinney on March 23, 1958 at the Jamaica Union Church. After living two years as the wife of a military man in the US army, the couple came home to Jamaica where they settled down to life on the farm. It was here that they raised their son, Lyle, and daughter, Diana. Karen was active in church, community and school events. She was employed at the Yale, Jamaica, Bagley (YJB) school system as the High School librarian for several years. In 1990, after 30 years of farming, Gene and Karen moved to Perry, IA. Karen was then employed at KVI/Marsh insurance company for 15 years and later worked part time at Farm Credit Services of America and Ginger Bread Preschool in Perry. She was an active member of the Perry Bible Church as well as a faithful volunteer at the Perry Public Library, the Perry Lutheran Home, the Rowley Masonic Home and wherever else she was needed. Vacations were always centered around the family with many trips to Colorado, California, Arizona, Missouri and Nebraska. Karen looked forward to weekly Bible Study. She also enjoyed knitting, reading, and, as many know, she was an excellent cook. She loved being with her family and talking to them on the phone regularly. She was also faithful to keep in touch with the many, many friends she had made over the years. Karen is preceded in death by her parents, J. Henry and Madie Hess, sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Jim Sukovaty. Survivors include her loving husband, Gene Kinney; son Lyle (Janet) Kinney of Bellevue, NE; daughter Diana (Ray) Hughes of Aurora, CO and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.