Obituary of Karen M. Guthmiller

Karen M. Guthmiller, age 76 of Yankton passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at her home surrounded by family and friends after battling leukemia Memorial Services will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Yankton with Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial of Karen's cremated remains will be in the Garden of Memories. Visitations will be from 6-8 PM, Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton. A time for memory sharing will be at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Karen Marie Garvey was born March 10, 1937 to Dan and Agnes (Wakefield) Garvey in Yankton, SD. She attended Yankton High School. Karen married Lloyd Guthmiller on July 10, 1955 in Las Vegas. To this union four children were born: Terry, Sioux Falls, SD, Kim (Rob) Heikes, Hartington, NE, Larry (Janni), Yankton, SD, and Gary (Ginger), Yankton, SD. Karen was blessed with 10 grandchildren: Jessica, Christopher, Kelsey, Josh, Evan, Brittney, Tyler, Trevor, Kaitlin, and Gage, and also 5 great-grandchildren: Grady, Haleigh, Mason, Ayla, and Riley. Karen and Lloyd raised their family on a farm by Menno, SD. She worked several jobs through the years, including, TG&Y, Pamida, Mayfield Store, and the Yankton Care Center. Karen and Lloyd moved to Yankton in 1996. Karen will be remembered most for her love and devotion to family, friends, and faith. She was always willing to help others, and be there to love and hug her grandchildren. Karen was a member of First United Methodist Church of Yankton. She enjoyed going to Sunday service and going out to lunch with family and friends. Karen is survived by her husband, Lloyd of Yankton, SD; mother-in-law, Lea Guthmiller of Yankton, SD; her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; loving sister, Fran Ness of California; sister-in-law, Shirley Ann Garvey of Florida; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ray and Delores Lowe of Colorado; many neices and nephews; and her dearest friend, Julie Sherman of Sioux Falls, SD. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, father-in-law, Christ, 3 brothers: Joe, Ronnie, and David, and 2 sisters, Mary and a sister that died in infancy. Our lives are all richer because of her never-ending love.