KAREN ENGLAND BALSTER

KAREN ENGLAND BALSTER

Karen Readene (England) Balster, age 68, of New Market, Iowa, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2013.

Karen was born May 7, 1944 to Walter Warren England and Dorothy Marie Rechtenbach in Creston, Iowa. Karen grew up on a farm near Clearfield, Iowa. She was married in 1960 and gave birth to a son, David Brown, in 1961. On February 14, 1993, Karen remarried Leon ‘Lynn’ Balster in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together, they farmed and raised hogs in Minnesota. A few years later, Karen and Lynn bought a farm near Webster City, Iowa. The couple moved to their present home outside of New Market, Iowa in 2005. The couple enjoyed raising cattle at their farm.

Karen was a hard worker. She worked at Bunn-O-Matic factory in Creston, Iowa for about 17 years. Karen enjoyed being on the farm and helped raise cattle, hogs and horses. Karen had a passion for riding horses and raising Rat Terrier dogs.

Preceding Karen in death were her parents Walt England and Dorothy Rechtenbach-England; her brother Donald Wayne England; and her husband Leon ‘Lynn’ Balster.

Left to mourn are her son and significant other, David Brown and Crystal Taylor, of Creston, Iowa; granddaughter Jamie Brown of Maryville, Illinois; grandson Brandon Taylor and wife Alexis Taylor and their children Cody, Clayton, and Chance Taylor, all of Saint Joseph, Missouri; brothers Larry ‘Butch’ England and wife Jeannette England of Clearfield, Iowa and Gerald ‘Harry’ England of Clearfield, Iowa; nephew Jesse Warren England of Saint Joseph, Missouri and numerous other nieces and nephews. Karen loved and enjoyed all her family.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in her name.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Clearfield, Iowa with Bill Armstrong officiating. A reception followed the services at the Lions Club building in Clearfield.