Karen Kurth

Karen Kurth, (82) of Ankeny, former longtime Marshalltown resident, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day) from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, at the Sunnyview Care Center in Ankeny. Karen was reunited with her valentine, Dick, after being apart for nearly 25 years. A family funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 18th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. The family kindly requests masks are worn for the service. Instead of flowers the family requests memorials in Karen’s honor be directed to Animal Lifeline at P.O. Box #12, Carlisle, IA, 50047 to celebrate Karen’s love for animals. For questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/. Born Karen Eibs on September 22nd, 1939, in Van Cleve, Iowa, she was the daughter of Harold and Esther (Thursby) Eibs. She received her education in State Center. On October 1st, 1955, she was united in marriage to Richard Kurth. They made their home in Marshalltown. Karen was a homemaker and mother for her four children. In 1989, they started Richard Kurth’s Garbage Service. They moved to Ankeny in 1996 because of Richard’s health. Karen worked for Schneider National Trucking until her retirement. She was a gifted artist especially painting and enjoyed crocheting, crafting and other activities. She was a talented seamstress and made all three of her daughter’s wedding and bridesmaids’ dresses. Karen was a member of the Central Iowa Art Association and the United Methodist Church of Marshalltown and transferred her membership to Ankeny First United Methodist Church after moving to Ankeny. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Terresa Goetsch, Christine Kurth (Danny Ervin), Scott Kurth (wife Mary) and Nikki Harrison (husband Tim), eight grandsons, one step-granddaughter, three great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters, one step-great-granddaughter and her sister, Denise Long as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members. In death, Karen rejoined her parents, her husband Richard, son-in-law Gary Goetsch, and sisters Janniene Tuel Barbour and Geraldine Drew.