Karen Hollingsworth, 85, of Mediapolis, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Mediapolis. Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Mediapolis Global Methodist Church. Burial will be in Kossuth Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Mediapolis Global Methodist Church and Kossuth Cemetery Association. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.
Karen Sue Wright was born on Oct. 17, 1939 to Gay and Mildred (Springsteen) Wright. She grew up in Morning Sun, Iowa where she enjoyed the finer things of a small-town life…riding bikes, roller skating at her dad’s skating rink in town, sledding down the old grade school hill, and shooting baskets on the M.S.H.S. girl basketball team. She earned her way to the state tournament for her free throw shooting skills, winning many trophies along the way. She was also active in the Morning Sun Methodist Church and 4-H in those early years. After graduating from MSHS in 1957 she went to nursing school in downtown Burlington from 1957-1958.
Karen married Ronald G. Hollingsworth on September 5, 1958 and together they started their life in Mediapolis. Karen was active in many community activities along with starting a painting business with her sister-in-law, Joyce. She loved Jesus and was active in the Global Methodist Church, attending faithfully for 65 years. She sang in the choir, helped make greeting cards, and her church and church family held a special place in her heart.
In 1982 Karen went back to nursing school at S.C.C. and earned her R.N. Her nursing career had her at Burlington Medical Center on the surgical floor, Mediapolis Care Center, Morning Sun Care Center and at Dr. Miller’s chiropractic office in Mediapolis.
Through the years Karen was also a Girl Scout Leader, a member of Kings Daughters, loved taking family vacations and road trips with her sisters, and attended many of her kids and grandkids school and sports events. She loved sitting down at the piano to play a hymn or two and invited anyone around to sit down and play a duet of chopsticks with her. She could be seen most recently cruising up and down the main street sidewalks with her shiny red scooter!
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Karen loved her children well: Christy and Kim Robb, Randy and Joni Hollingsworth and Rhonda and Kory Klenk.
She loved her grandchildren more: Levi (Maddie), Caleb (Paige) and Noah (Gabby) Robb; Tanner (Cassie), Maddie (Casey), Samuel (Hope) and Joseph Hollingsworth; Chase (Stephanie), Bryana (Marcus Walton) and Bryce (Emma) Klenk.
But the 13 great-grandkids were her delight! Dorothy, Eloise, Theo and Silas Robb, Zander, Ansel and Luna Hollingsworth, Kavik, Tavi and Kreed Walton, Russell, Kashton and Khoen Klenk.
She is also survived by her sister, Ruth and James Oetken, her brother, Ed (Jody) Wright, a special niece, Cindy and Ken Miller, many other nieces, nephews and cousins, and many good and faithful friends.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ron in 2009; sister, Phyllis and Warren Stineman; niece, Shannon Stineman; in-laws: J.K. “Holly” and Marcella Hollingsworth, Shirley and Vaughn McCants and Don and Joyce Hollingsworth.