Karen J. VerSteegt, 70, of Newton, Iowa, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, at the Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa.

Karen&8217;s body was cremated. A memorial service was held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton. The Rev. Gary Marzolf of the First United Methodist Church, Newton, officiated. The family greeted friends following the service. Memorials in Karen&8217;s name may be left at the funeral home.

Karen was born Jan. 24, 1937, in rural Poweshiek County, Iowa, to Raleigh and Ethel (Arthur) Stanley.

She married Melvin C. VerSteegt on Sept. 26, 1959, in Lynnville, Iowa. She had lived in Newton since 1997. She had also lived in Searsboro, Iowa, and Hollandale.

Karen was a graduate of Albert Lea High School. She had worked at the Grinnell Phone Company, Spurgeons and at Grinnell College, all in Grinnell, Iowa. Karen had been involved in the Democratic Party in Poweshiek County. She loved her grandchildren, enjoyed reading and politics.

Survivors include her son, Michael (Carla) VerSteegt of San Francisco, Calif.; daughters, Kelly (Doug) Englert of Windsor, Colo., and Karla (Robert) Shackelford of Ankeny, Iowa; grandchildren, Calvin and Cale Englert and Jake DePenning; brother, Donald (Delores) Stanley of Albert Lea; and sister, Shirley Hovland of Hollandale.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Melvin in 1995; four brothers, Robert, Gordie, Jack and Lilburn Stanley; and sister, Iris Guerts.