Karen Willenborg

December 28, 1953 - May 24, 2019

Karen Willenborg, 65 of Ankeny and formerly of Carroll, died Friday, May 24, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with Fr. Brian Feller officiating. Casket Bearers will be: Scott Weitl, Mike Weitl, Lois Dopheide, Linda Hagerty, Kenzie Weitl, Jill Dopheide, Diane Owen, and Patty Alley. Burial will be in Holy Angels Cemetery in Roselle. Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the funeral home from 10-11:15 a.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Karen's family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Born on December 28, 1953 at Carroll, Iowa, Karen was the daughter of Paul and Lavina (Tunning) Willenborg. She grew up on a farm near Roselle where she attended Holy Angels School and later graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll. Karen then moved to the Des Moines area for several years before residing in the Ankeny community. For over 35 years she was employed with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, where her last position was Director of IT until her retirement. In retirement, Karen cared for her mother and also assisted babysitting her great nieces and great nephews. She loved to travel and took many trips throughout the United States and several worldwide. Karen enjoyed camping with her family and friends, and also biking, riding in Ragbrai. She looked forward to her ladies night out with a group of close friends and coworkers. Karen’s dogs, Bailey and Gatsby were a big part of her life and she had great love for them. Left to celebrate her life is Karen’s sister, Jan Weitl and her husband Mike of Templeton; her niece, Sara (Travis) Westphal and their children, David and Kaylee of Prairie City; her nephew, Scott (Sarah) Weitl and their children, Scarlett, Sawyer, and Summer of Carroll; as well as many special cousins, neighbors, other extended relatives and many close friends. Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Lavina Willenborg; and her brother in infancy, Teddy.