Karen Sue Fitzpatrick

Karen Sue Fitzpatrick, age 69, of rural Bayard, IA, passed away on Monday, December 4, 2023 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by her family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bayard with Fr. Bede Inekwere as Celebrant assisted by Deacon Chris Evans. Music for the Mass will be by Mary Jane Carothers and Josh Faber.  Lectors for the Mass will be Ed and Jim Fitzpatrick. Gift bearers will be Karen’s Grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids from 5 – 7 P.M. on Friday where there will be a Rosary at 7 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Metavivor, for metastatic breast cancer research and may be given online at www.metavivor.org or left with the funeral home.

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

Karen was born on October 8, 1954 in Des Moines, IA.  She was the daughter of John and Rose Mary (McKinney) Penick.  She grew up in St. Charles, IA, and graduated from I-35 High School in 1973.  She was married to Joe Fitzpatrick on September 22, 1973 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset.  The couple lived in several communities before making their home near Bayard.  Karen worked at American Home Shield in Carroll, Garst Seed Company, and she sold Avon.  During her working years, she attended DMACC in Carroll and earned a degree in Business Administration.  She was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish in Bayard where she served as bookkeeper and taught CCD.  Karen enjoyed knitting, crocheting, camping, fishing, traveling, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren.

Karen is survived by her husband Joe of rural Bayard; daughter Jennifer Predny (Michael) of El Paso, TX; three sons: Jeremy Fitzpatrick (Sara) of Johnston, Vincent Fitzpatrick of Colfax, and Andrew Fitzpatrick of Davenport; eight grandchildren: Trevor, Sean, Kathryn, Julia, James, Connor, Elijah, and Eleanor; three brothers: Raymond Penick of Forkland, AL, John Penick (Donna) of Beggs, OK, and Mike Penick of Conowingo, MD; four sisters-in-law: Eileen Klevann (Howard) of Eden Prairie, MN, Ann Amato of Omaha, NE, Jane Hall (Pat Willenborg) of Coon Rapids, IA, and Kay Finneseth (Scott) of Perry, IA; three brothers-in-law: Tom Fitzpatrick (Beth) of Portland, OR, and Ed Fitzpatrick (Barb) of Blaine, MN, and Jim Fitzpatrick (Maria) of Sun Prairie, WI; other extended family members: Rick Ryan (Vicki) and Mary Ryan; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents John and Rose Mary Penick; her father-in-law: Vincent Fitzpatrick; her mother-in-law Regina Ryan (Tom); two sisters: Rose Ann Lemon (Earl) and Mary Lou Hodges (Howard); and two brothers: Leonard in infancy and Rodney Penick.