Services
Obituary
Karen M. Ingham, 81, of Rockwell, passed away Monday, October 14, 2024, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Karen will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, October 21, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 305 Elm Street East, in Rockwell, with Father Josh Link officiating. Burial will take place at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in rural Swaledale.
Click the following link to watch the Mass of Christian Burial live stream https://meet.goto.com/746577461
Visitation for Karen will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 PM on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. A Scriptural Wake Service will begin at 6:00 PM.
Karen Marie Grant was born July 11, 1943, to Frank and Mandelian (Foertsch) Grant in Algona, Iowa, the fifth of eleven children. She was raised in the rural Britt area, attending and graduating from Britt High School with the Class of 1961.
Following high school, Karen attended Hamilton College in Mason City, where she studied bookkeeping. While working as a waitress at the Townhouse in Mason City, she met a young bartender named Rollin Ingham. The couple were married on February 8, 1964, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt and made their home in rural Swaledale, where they farmed for many years.
Rollin passed away in 1984. Karen eventually moved to the big city (Rockwell) in 1988, but continued to farm until retiring to become a full-time grandma three years ago.
Karen loved her family, caring for her children and grandchildren, and was known for hardly ever saying no. She enjoyed hosting holidays and was especially excited about Christmas each year. She was an accomplished baker, making special treats for family and friends. She often said her dream job was decorating cakes at Hy-Vee, but she was too busy mowing, scrapbooking, taking the grandkids shopping and sewing.
Karen was a long-time 4-H leader and served as a Cub Scout leader for a time. She enjoyed playing cards, especially 500 with the ladies’ Card Club group and Pinochle and Canasta with her family. She seldom missed an event for her children or grandchildren and loved feeding and watching the birds in the backyard. Most of the Rockwell kids frequented Karen’s home for Trick-or-Treat on Halloween, because they knew she had the best popcorn balls, served with a side of cash.
Karen was a lifelong Catholic and a long-time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockwell.
Karen will be lovingly remembered for her kindness, her sense of humor and loving personality. She was always willing to help anyone in need and enjoyed having fun while others pursued their passions and favorite things. She was a bonus mom and grandma to her children and grandchildren’s friends, often keeping everyone’s favorite treats on hand at the house for visits.
Karen is survived by her children, Joe Ingham of Swaledale, Mary Ingham of Clear Lake and Katy (Weston Koop) Showalter of Rockwell; grandchildren Jordan (Kaylan Hobbs) Shannon, Jennifer (Austen Servantez) Ingham, Joe (Jordyn Rinnels) Ingham, Deven (Cassidy Heidt) Showalter, Landon Showalter, Lily Showalter; loving companion, Richard Nuehring of Rockwell; Richard’s children Tim (Margaret) Nuehring, Doug (Leslie) Nuehring and Mark (Julie) Nuehring; the Nuehring grandchildren, Taylor (Jake) Stille and their children, Easton and Keslea, Tyler (Sydney Gruman) Nuehring, Carson Nuehring, Kelli (Joel) Rhame and their son, Douglas, Kyle (Erin) Nuehring, Kaci (Darrin) Ternes, and their son, Ashton; her sisters and brothers, Joan Davis, Robert (Vicki) Grant, David (Lynne) Grant, Mary (Tom Dale) Cahalan, Tom (Kim) Grant; siblings-in-law, Joan Grant and Bob Tallon; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other family and friends.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents; husband Rollin Ingham; son-in-law Joel Showalter; nieces Kathy Davis and Donna Davis; nephews Michael Grant, Mark Davis and Bobby Drury; brothers Donald Grant, Gerald Grant, William Grant, Michael Grant; sisters Linda Tallon and Sandra Grant; and sisters-in-law Georgianne Grant, Marcelle Drury and Mary Ann Hahn.