Karen Fordyce
June 14, 1943 ~ April 13, 2015
Karen Ann Walter Fordyce, 71, of Mount Vernon, passed away peacefully at home on Monday morning, April 13, 2015. Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon, by Pastor Becky High and Rev. Dr. William Daylong. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. on Friday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon (formerly Morgan's). Burial: Mount Vernon Cemetery.
Karen was born on June 14, 1943, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Le Roy Walter and Lois Tompkins Walter Wallace. She graduated from Williamsburg High School and the University College of Cosmetology in Iowa City. She married Edward Fordyce on February 6, 1965.
Karen is survived by her husband Edward; and daughters, Lorrie Dahlman (Brad) of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Shelly Brinkmann (Adam) of Burnsville, Minnesota and Emily Joldersma (Eric) of Hudsonville, Michigan; twelve grandchildren, Erik, Benjamin and Lidia Dahlman, Andrew, Peter, Luke, Emma and Adeline Brinkmann, Jack, Eva, Maislin and Van Joldersma; her mother, Lois Wallace of Williamsburg; sister, Karol Lacher (Edward) of Williamsburg; brothers, Larry Walter of North English, Dale Walter (Pamela) of Williamsburg and James Mark Wallace of Amana; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; and a brother-in-law, Richard Fordyce.
She was preceded in death by her father, Le Roy Walter and a nephew, Michael Walter.
Her faith in Jesus Christ and her family were the most valued gifts in her life.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon. She was active in Women's Bible Study. She was a member of the Women of Words Book Club and a past member of The New Century Club.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 304 First Street SW, Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314, Hospice of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, Iowa, 52233, Bridgehaven Pregnancy Support Center, 701 Center Point Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402, or the charity of donor's choice.
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Karen…loved by so many people! Such an awesome experience starting Women’s Bible Studies with you at MVUMC…who of would ever guessed we would of met that way. God wanted us to meet and I am so glad he did. The short time I knew you brought me so much wisdom and joy. I am happy you are pain free with no cancer, no treatments and with Jesus. Heaven got a special lady yesterday and earth lost one…..see you on the other side Karen! xoxox
Karen:
Such a caring person! We met at Bible Study Fellowship and you were always so kind and pleasant to talk to. I remember having a luncheon at your beautiful home; what a gracious host. You will be missed by many but how living in Paradise……………………………………………………………………..Barb Dove
I travelled the journey of cancer with Karen during the summer of 2012 @ Mercy. I remember her championing spirit and her positive attitude. Always smiling and lived her life to the fullest. Helen Schwietert
Remembering Karen: I would just like to say that I know “Aunt” Karen to be very special. I feel it was a privilege to have her in the family, being such a fine and spiritual lady, someone who deserved great respect. Karen was so unassuming and yet such an uncommon person in her own way. Truly a positive example for the rest of us. I remember Karen as one who was an accepting person and slow to judge others. A great wife and mother, a true friend, but most of all a wonderful example who put her Lord and Savior first. Thank you Karen and thank you dear Lord for sharing Karen with us. – Dave Penn
Ed, Lorrie, Shelly and Emily,
What a great loss to us all who knew and loved Karen. What a fighter she was and we never heard her complain….always with a smile and saying she was doing ok….Bless her. She was always a positive person, had a beautiful smile and loving ways. I know you all have your own special memories of her, hold them close and remember her with a smile.
God’s Blessing on you all, we have lost another angel to God….
With my sincere sympathy and memories of Karen,
Annamae Baker
Dear Ed and Family, We are truly thinking of you in these days of your grief, and know that Karen’s passing is dramatically changing the whole fabric of your family dynamics. We pray that grief and sadness will give way to a wholesome acceptance that can give you healing and peace. Bob and Margaret Bell
Dear Ed, Lorrie, Shelly, Emily and all of the extended family. I was so saddened to read of Karen’s passing, and yet so happy for her to have been chosen to graduate to her eternal life. Karen was such a gentle, loving soul. I see her in her family and in all of the lives she touched. Her passing will leave a hole in all of our lives, but it will be filled with beautiful memories of a beautiful lady. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Marty Thomsen Ohlfest
(from a favorite quote) “a good heart is the sun and the moon, for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps its course truly.” Karen’s heart kept its course truly. She taught us how to hope and love, how to win and how to lose. She taught us how to live, and finally, she taught us how to die.” We will always treasure our friendship and the gift of time shared with Karen.
We have some very fond and funny memories with Karen, particularly when she traveled with us down to Kansas City to Annie Brinkmann’s wedding. That should be a 5 hour drive. On the way home, early on, we encountered a wide spread ice storm! We averaged 35 mph and at one point ended up stopped cold on I-80, as all the ramps into rest stops were clogged with cars, and there was no where to go! So everyone got out of their cars and trucks and were visiting with each other on the highway!! We had to pass the interchange to go north to Cedar Rapids off I-80, turn around at the shopping mall, and head back west, because the on-ramp was closed due to a semi that jack knifed and closed off the road.
All the while we laughed a lot, told stories about our kids, had great Christian fellowship, and arrived home about 8 hours later!! We cherish that time, and also appreciate Karen’s deep faith in Jesus.
We are thankful she is safely home with Him – and we plan to join her!!!
Jo and Bill Schuster
I don’t have the proper words to express how sad the passing of Karen means to me. I babysat for the Fordyce family a lot, and NEVER encountered sweeter girls and parents. Karen was a loving, giving, caring soul. You are all in my thoughts and my heart. Sleep well, beautiful Karen!
I had the chance to eat a fun meal at Gringo’s in downtown Cedar Rapids once with Karen and my own mom. I was 22 years old. We were talking about prayer and Karen shared how when she was out of her routine of prayer, due to travels or whatever it may be, that when she resumed that time with Jesus she felt He had really missed her. And that she missed Him, too. Like a longing, a good, holy longing. And that peaceful comment made a giant impression on me. It helped me value devotional time more. I will never forget that peek into her beautiful soul. On a lighter note, I also enjoyed her famous potato salad on many family occasions, which is unforgettable in a different sort of way! There is no potato salad like Karen’s. Annie (Brinkmann) Rodgers
Karen walked with grace and lived in grace. Mostly on Thanksgiving weekends did we see Karen while visiting the Brinkmann family. I always enjoyed our chats. Her smile was sincere and she survived well. She was a great mother. I extend our family’s sympathies to Ed, Shelly and family, Lorrie and family and Emily and family. We have fond memories of that snow/ice storm coming back from Annie Brinkmann’s wedding in KC… but we were caught in a roadside shelter with Shelly and family. Our boys had a great time having snowball fights and building snowmen. An unusual opportunity granted by calamity! A very strong sense of God’s protection was felt that day. This rather captures the spirit of Karen as she weathered the storms of life!
Just thinking about Karen as the time draws near for her birthday..June 14:) She was a wonderful friend:) Love to Ed and Shelly and Lorrie and Emily and their husbands and their children……5 of whom were grandchildren that we shared with Ed and Karen:) one of those husbands is our son:) Praying peace and joy as you celebrate her life……love each of you! Alan and Flo Brinkmann