Karen E. De Noble, age 77, died Friday, January 12, 2024, at her home near Hills, Minnesota.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Bethel Reformed Christian Church in Lester, Iowa. Visitation was 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday evening, January 19, 2024, also at the church in Lester.
Karen Elaine (Kooi) De Noble was born June 7, 1946, in Hull, Iowa, to Ellis and Christine (Van Zanten) Kooi. She was raised on a farm near Lebanon, Iowa, and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa.
On December 18, 1964, she was united in marriage to Robert De Noble at the Christian Reformed Church in Lebanon, Iowa. After a short time of being married, they moved to the family farm near Hills, Minnesota. While her kids were young, Karen spent her days caring for her family at home. After her children were grown, she worked at Mary Jane Brown Nursing Home in Luverne, Minnesota, and Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota.
Karen’s faith and her family were most important to her. She was a member of Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, Iowa. Karen enjoyed listening to gospel hymns, fixing puzzles, watching sports with her children, reading, watching and feeding birds, and playing word chums with her sisters. She had a special bond with the family dog, Hawkeye, which gave her much comfort and enjoyment. She especially loved baking for her family and friends and was always looking for new recipes. She was very thankful for her children and was extremely proud of each of her five grandchildren.
Karen is survived by her children Darrell De Noble of Hills, Minnesota, David De Noble of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Brian (Kristi) De Noble of Hills, Minnesota, and Brenda (Kevin) Auch of Freeman, South Dakota; grandchildren Austin De Noble, Andrew (Brooke) De Noble, Kaylee, Paige, and Tannen Auch; sisters Grada Raak of Milford, Iowa, Bertha Vos of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Renzella Kempema of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sisters-in-law Lyda (Harold) Timmerman of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Betty Kooima of Rock Valley, Iowa; brothers-in-law Marlin (Judy) De Noble of Hills, Minnesota, Dwight (Alvina) De Noble of Larchwood, Iowa; and sister-in-law Cheryl (Darrell) Hoekstra of Alton, Iowa; nieces, nephews, and other family members.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Robert De Noble; her parents, Ellis and Christine Kooi; brother Kenneth Kooi; twin sister Sandra Kooi; parents-in-law, Cornelius and Henrietta De Noble; and brothers-in-law Cliff Raak, Duane Vos, and Rich Kempema.