Karen Sylvia Lovendahl

Karen Sylvia Keck Lovendahl, 83, of rural Meriden, passed away January 31, 2025, after suffering from kidney disease for many years. She was born on November 28, 1941, in Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada, to Irvin Sterling and Dorothy May (Byrum) Keck. She spent her first year of life in Canada while her father worked in the oil fields.
During World War II, Karen and her mother moved back to Kansas while her father served in the Navy. The family eventually settled in Ozawkie, and then in Meriden, Kansas, where Karen graduated from Meriden High School in 1959.
On July 16, 1960, Karen married Carl Merril Lovendahl at a cousin's home in Topeka. Karen and Merril celebrated 62 years of marriage before his passing on July 22, 2022.
Primarily a devoted farm wife, Karen also worked at Kaw Valley Bank. She later earned her Practical Nursing degree in 1985 from Kaw Area Technical School and dedicated many years to working at Topeka area care homes. Karen had a passion for attending polka dances with Merril. She enjoyed writing, creating cards and t-shirts, and her beloved dogs and Hereford cattle. She was a member of Rock Creek Bible Church, Bloomfield Club, and you could find her keeping stats at many baseball games.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Merril, her son, Carl Derril Lovendahl in 1983, her infant great-grandson, Isaac Kirk in 2004, and her sister, Marilyn Price in 2018. She is survived by her daughters: Kerril (David) Bauerly, rural Tonganoxie, and Daren (Randy) Penry, Meriden. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Stephanie (Stuart) Green, Eric (Andee) Kirk, Alan (Kristen) Bauerly, Dustan (Katie) Sprowls, Christopher Kirk, Casey Penry, and Cody Penry, and her 15 great-grandchildren: Taylor Kirk, Mariah Penry, Brysan Sprowls, Alexandria Kirk, Braxdon Penry, Matthew Bauerly, Riley Sprowls, Spencer Green, Eliza Bauerly, Zane Penry, Mykah Sprowls, Maximus Kirk, Corey Bauerly, Shaiden Green, and Shiloh Green. Additionally, Karen is survived by her two sisters: Dr. Beverly DeLaBruere of Damascus, Oregon, and Susan (Bill) Kramer, Oskaloosa.
A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Muddy Creek Cemetery, rural Meriden. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at Barnett Family Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Memorials suggested to the Derril Lovendahl memorial baseball scholarship at Cloud County Community College. barnettfamilyfh.com