Karen Clayburg

     Karen Sue Clayburg, age 72, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids surrounded by her family.      Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids with Rev. Joyce Webb officiating.  Organist for the service will be Lula Garnes and soloist will be Cindy Seastrom.  Casket bearers will be Karen’s four sons: Gary, Roger, Tom, and Michael Clayburg.  Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery near Coon Rapids.       Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids from 5 – 7 P.M. on Friday evening and will resume at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday and continue until the time of service.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com      Born on September 25, 1945 in Albert Lea, MN, she was the daughter of Ernest Herbert and Violet Arlene (Peterson) Fenney.  Karen grew up in Northwood, IA, where she graduated from Northwood-Kensett High School in 1964.  She attended Iowa State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Botany with minors in Education and Zoology.  This is also where she met the love of her life and future husband, John Clayburg, at the freshman mixer dance.  The couple married on July 13, 1968 at the First Lutheran Church in Northwood, IA.  Karen and John lived in Ames while John attended Veterinary school and she taught science at Nathan Weeks Middle School and NESCO High School.   Upon John’s graduation from Veterinary school, they moved to Coon Rapids where together they raised their family, farmed and operated Davis and Clayburg Veterinary Practice.  She also worked in the quality assurance lab for ICI Seeds doing germination work and helped develop DNA fingerprinting for seed corn genetics. Karen worked as a Special Education aide at the Coon Rapids-Bayard Middle School and later taught Biology in the Coon Rapids-Bayard High School.  During this time, she became involved with Project SEMI (Science Education Mobile Instruction) to bring the latest technical innovations to science education.  She was the first teacher to use the mobile lab and was involved from the beginning with project conceptualization.  She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Coon Rapids and the United Methodist Women.  Karen was also active with PEO Chapter D.W., CU TTT, the Garden Club and she volunteered for 10 years on the Coon Rapids Ambulance crew.  Karen enjoyed her cats and dogs, pottery, tending to her yard, gardening, attending Iowa State Football games and spending time at Lake Panorama.  She cherished being with her family and especially with her grandchildren.  The Clayburgs were also a proud host family to Cristian Mare, their A.F.S. student from Rosario Argentina.      Karen is survived by her husband Dr. John Clayburg of 49 years; her children: Gary Clayburg of Aurora, CO, Roger Clayburg (Jeanna) of Coon Rapids, Kathy Clayburg (Mike Houghtaling) of Minneapolis, MN, Tom Clayburg of Humboldt, IA, and Michael Clayburg (Kristy Darrah) of Kansas City, MO; three grandchildren: Lance, Breeley and Malia; two sisters: her twin Carol Clark (Randy) of Sabula, IA and Ethel Jordan (Steve) of Orange, CA; three nieces; one nephew; and several cousins.      Karen was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Violet Fenney and her mother and father-in-law Claribel and Frank Clayburg.