Karen Sue Schlosser

Karen Sue Schlosser, age 85 of Colfax, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Traditions Memory Care in Newton, IA. Funeral services will be held Tuesday January 14th at 10:30 am at Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax.  Burial will follow at Colfax Cemetery.   Visitation will take place Monday January 13th from 4 to 7 pm at the Coburn Funeral Home in Colfax.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Colfax Fire Department and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

The daughter of Kenneth and Vera (Polich) Goddard, Karen was born on July 31, 1939, in Des Moines. Growing up in the small town of Palmyra, IA. She graduated from Hartford High School with the “Class of ‘57″ which was also one of her many favorite songs.

Karen attended secretarial school in Minneapolis and began working at the Register and Tribune.

In June of 1961, Karen married Vernon McClay. They were married for five years and lived just south of Colfax. While Vernon was in the service, Karen traveled to Okinawa with him. When they returned, she was employed at John Deere. Vernon passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 1966.

On July 1, 1967, Karen married Wayne Schlosser at the Little Brown Church in the Vale. They moved just east of Colfax, building a life and a family they cherished for over 57 years. They are the proud parents of Greg (Mollie) Schlosser and Lisa (Gary) Holdgrafer. Karen waited patiently for grandchildren to spoil and finally in a short span of years she had 8 she simply adored. Brad, Todd, Calvin, Camilla, Kesley, Kenny, Katie and Luke were always welcomed with a huge Grandma smile, hug, and cookies. Yes, there were always cookies! Karen was the cookie lady. Monster cookies were her specialty and hers were simply the best!

During the farm crisis of the ‘80′s, Karen returned to work. In 1995, Karen retired after many years at Chrysler Credit Corporation. She then worked at Webb Insurance Agency. Throughout all of her off farm employment she continued to feed the planting and harvest crews at home and send cookies with the grain haulers and salesmen. No one was ever hungry if Karen was around. She could always feed a tribe with a moments notice. Her kitchen table was the heart of their home as many will cherish endless funny stories and meals shared with laughter and love. Her kitchen door was always open, and she loved company, a good cup of coffee with a Casey’s donut, a great bargain, and a fun garage sale. Karen was a 4-H leader for many years and a member of the county youth committee. She was an active member of the county farm bureau and the local Jaycee’ettes. She was on the board for the local preschool for many years.   She was an avid seamstress, designing and altering many bridesmaid dresses, naming her business, “Mrs. Wayne’s Sewing Lane.” Her and Wayne were both active with the county pork producers, Karen in charge of the Porkettes. She even hosted her local church ladies brunch at home in their brand new confinement nursery on the farm. Karen’s big smile was radiant. Her laugh was contagious. She was always surrounded by great friends and family.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband, Wayne Schlosser, daughter Lisa (Gary) Holdgrafer, daughter-in-law Mollie Schlosser, grandchildren Brad, Todd, Kesley and Luke Holdgrafer, and Calvin, Camilla, Katie and Kenny Schlosser, a great grandson Arlo Schlosser, a brother-in-law Wayne (Lori) McClay, and sister-in-law Karen (Dennis) Rawlins.

Karen was preceded in death by her first husband, parents, grandparents, and her son, Greg.