"Hey this is Dracob Whitworth. Karen fostored me when i was 3 and 4 years old now i am 15. I am just saying that i am sad that she left so soon. Well i was just seeing how you guys are."
In loving memory of
Karen Kay Darnell
June 10, 1957 - June 20, 2016
Karen Kay Darnell, 59, of Davenport, formerly of Burlington, died 3:10 p.m. June 20, 2016 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House in Bettendorf after a brief illness.
Born June 10, 1957 in Burlington, IA, she was the daughter of Glenn and Marcella (Holsteen) Petersen. She married Michael D. Darnell on December 5, 1992 in Burlington.
She was a 1975 graduate of Mediapolis High School where she played on the 1973 Bullettes State Champion Basketball team and earned her BS in nursing degree with Iowa Wesleyan University in 1979.
Karen worked as a registered nurse for the Davenport School Systems for two years. She was previously the Director of Registration at Great River Medical Center for 10 years and also served as a registered nurse for Dr. Michael Hendricks. She was a member of New Life Christian Church of Davenport and formerly of First United Methodist Church in Burlington and Harmony Bible Church. Karen enjoyed spending time with family and doing many family activities, cooking, shopping with friends, and being very active in her church. She also was very involved in foster care program.
Survivors include her husband; Michael Darnell of Davenport; six daughters, Ashley (Travis) Grove of Blue Grass, Annie (Marcos) Perez of Bettendorf, Deanne (Matt) Saddoris of New Windsor, IL, Nickole (Ryan) Beggs of Germany, Princess (Josuel) German of South Dakota and Jasmine (Schyler Hill) Moore of Davenport; three sons, Braden (Katie) Darnell of Dubuque, Brenton (Erica) Darnell of St. Louis, and Garnett Propst, of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren; Conner Corman, Bryson Saddoris, Illiana Saddoris, Bryson Grove, Lucia Darnell, Eva Darnell and Oden Hill; two sisters, Glenda Lyons of Mediapolis and Lois (Steve) Elliott of Cherokee, Iowa; several nieces and a nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Nancy and Diane.
The funeral service for Mrs. Darnell will be 11a.m. Friday, June 24th at Lunning Chapel. Pastor Ed Anglin officiating with interment in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon till 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends 5 until 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23rd in Lunning Chapel. Memorials have been established for New Life Christian Church of Davenport and a Karen Darnell Memorial Fund for Children In Need.
Tributes
"Such a vibrant person, always had a smile on her face. So sorry and saddened at her passing. "
"I am so sad to learn of Karen's passing away. I am a younger cousin and enjoyed many great memories of family dinners over the holidays growing up in Iowa. Karen would lead us in our silly plays and songs we would preform for the adults. She always had a smile for everyone and a great story to tell. I loved her contagious laugh and free spirit. She inspired my husband Mike and I to adopt our 3 children after seeing what a happy family she and Mike had created! God bless you all and I am praying for you. "
"My heart is sad and joyous and the same time....Karen was truly of beautiful heart and soul. All of us were made better for knowing and loving her. She knew how to bring and share her heart to everyone she encountered. She had the spiritual gift to change all of our hearts for the better. She will be missed but never forgotten....She is at peace. Dave Buder"
"There are no words to describe how much I loved Karen. She was the first manager who really cared about me as a person and my career. She took the time to teach me and mentor me and for that I am forever grateful. She was not only a teacher but my friend. My heart aches for your loss! With Love & Prayers~ Garnet Silverstein"
"Family of Karen I was deeply saddened to hear Karen had passed away. My thoughts are with your family during this difficult time. I had the privilege of working with Karen at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Karen has left a lasting impression on me. The first time I met her I knew she was a very special person. She was such a strong kindhearted lady, she cared deeply for her staff and would always take the time to stop by to sit and have a conversation with you. It truly was a pleasure to have worked with her. I will miss her greatly. Amy Olejniczak "
"Your friends at Iowa Wesleyan University extend sincere sympathy on the loss of Karen."
"Karen was my boss in the registration department at GRMC in the early to mid 2000s. She was one of the most influential people in my life at the time, who supported me in pursing my passion to get into the music business. She was so supportive of working with my schedule - dropping from full-time to part time, to even taking a leave of absence to go to a vocational recording school. That leave of absence led to me working for my favorite musician/artist and set me on a path to move to Los Angeles and work in music management and FIlm/TV/Game licensing. When I moved back from LA after only a year, she hired me right back into the department and helped me get back on my feet. She continued to support me as I once again scaled back my hours to PRN as I co-found a record label, FiXT, and scaled a home-based business until eventually leaving the hospital and going full-time at home. Her encouragement and support, was in no small part, key to putting me on the path where I am now. And now, as a manager of a small business with 10+ employees I hope and pray that I can be as supportive and encouraging to my employees as she was to me. Although we weren't incredibly close over the years, I have always had a special place in my heart for her because of her great example of living and leading. "
"Karen will be missed at Wood Intermediate. She cared deeply about the staff and students. She was a delight to work with and fun to talk to. "
"I was Karen's Health Para and I have never met anyone so in love with her family and grandchildren. we would often talk and share stories of our husbands, children and our grandchildren. Karen had an amazing spirit and the warmest heart of anyone I have ever known. I will miss her. Mike I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers"
"Karen was a couple years older than me at Mediapolis High School. I also had the pleasure of working with her at Dr M Hendricks office. She also lived nearby my daycare provider when our children were younger. Karen had such a wonderful laugh and sense of humor and warm heart."
"Karen and I went to Mediapolis School together, played basketball together, and had many laughs together. Karen was taken from this life too soon and she will be missed! My thoughts and prayers go out to her family."
"Karen was my friend first, then my coworker and finally my boss. She personified the word generous. She was truly generous with her time, money and possessions. Karen has touched the lives of many in her life and will be greatly missed."
"I have known Karen all of her life as a younger cousin. She was always a fun loving and happy kid growing up. Every time I have seen her in our adult years I am just amazed at her vibrant personality and humorous comments when discussing family memories. She will always be remembered and missed by everyone who knew her. Thoughts and prayers to her family."
"I am in shock and saddened by the passing of Karen. She was so kind and caring. What a loss to her family and friends. Mid City HS will miss her dearly. Cindy Blinkinsop, Librarian at MCHS"
"I was Karen's Health Para at Mid City High and I am so heart broken right now. Karen was a loving person who had a Christian spirit whom you can talk to whenever you needed a shoulder to cry on. She will be deeply missed. Prayers for the family."
"I worked with Karen for a number of years at GRMC. Her sense of humor was contagious. Her stories about her family were always a good starter to the day. She truly loved her family. My prayers are with all of you during this time "
"Words can't adequately express my sorrow, nor can words fully convey what a truly wonderful, unique, talented, intelligent, charismatic, generous, and beautiful person Karen was. So many have their own stories and wonderful experiences with Karen. I will be forever grateful to have experienced some of life's journey with Karen. She was someone you wanted to be part of your inner circle and "on your side". Karen, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for me when I was in need, a dear friend, and confidant. I have missed you and love you, and you will always be part of my memories. May your family always know what a truly amazing and remarkable person you were. With eternal love, Lu Anne Johnson"