Obituary of Karen Lee Fitzgerald

Karen L. Fitzgerald, 73, of Dyersville, Iowa died Thursday, October 3, 2013, at Oak Crest Manor, Dyersville, Iowa. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, October 6, 2013, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a Vigil Service will be held at 4:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 7, 2013, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Noah Diehm will officiate. Karen was born August 2, 1940 in Dubuque County, Iowa, the daughter of Lloyd E. and Idell (Beatty) Woodhouse. She graduated from Epworth High School with the Class of 1958. She married Edward M. Fitzgerald on May 14, 1960, in Epworth. He preceded her in death. Karen was the Food Service Director at Manor Care in Dubuque until her retirement. She was an active mother and grandmother. She served on the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary and was a volunteer at the James Kennedy Library. Survivors include her 5 sons: David (Shelley) of Dubuque, Daniel (Julie) of Dyersville, Mark of Cedar Rapids, Jason of Portland, OR and Chad of Minneapolis, MN; 9 grandchildren: Teagan Fitzgerald, Michael, Elizabeth, and Katherine Fitzgerald, Jackie and Morgan Fitzgerald, Treavor, Taylor and Tanner Blum; 2 brothers: Robert (Dawn) Woodhouse of Dubuque, George (Janie) Woodhouse of Oskaloosa; in-laws:Ben Lee of Freeport, IL, Robert Fitzgerald of Dyersville, Jim Fitzgerald of Oelwein, Mary Jane Banning of White Salmon, WA, Bev (Rollie) Sampson of Colesburg and Carol (Leo) Klostermann of Dyersville. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ed in 1996, siblings: Edith Lee, Judy Woodhouse, Doris (Ken) Boal and Mabel Krogman: in-laws: John (Virgene), Dale and Lois Fitzgerald, Sylvia Fitzgerald, Marion "Cookie" Fitzgerald, and Keith Banning We would like to thank Hospice of Dubuque and the staffs at Mercy Medical Center and Oak Crest Manor for all of the kindness and care. We would like to especially thank all of her relatives and friends who have been so supportive and caring over these last years.