Karen Margaret (Mills) Schantz

Karen Margaret Schantz, 60, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on March 5, 1963, in Elkader, the daughter of Paul and Margarete (Dannwolf) Mills. Karen was raised and educated in Strawberry Point and was a 1981 graduate of Starmont High School. She then attended Hawkeye Community College studying Animal Science.

On May 5, 1984, Karen was united in marriage to Alan D. Schantz at Palisades-Keppler State Park near Mt. Vernon. Three children were born to this union. The family settled on their farm near Strawberry Point. Karen helped Alan farm and raise their children. During these years, she also helped to raise 15 foster children and one foreign exchange student.

Karen grew up showing cattle and continued this over the years. She loved showing cattle and helped her children and many others show cattle at the fair. Karen was very involved with 4-H clubs, helping with the Lodomillo Leaders and St. Olaf Jr. Farmers. She was an excellent seamstress and a wonderful cook.  Besides her family, raising dairy cows was everything to her.

Survivors include her husband of 39 years, Alan Schantz of Strawberry Point; her three children, Korey, Maxwell, and Isabella Schantz all of Strawberry Point; five siblings, Erwin (Debbie) Mills of Waterloo, Heidi deGier of Strawberry Point, Robin (Roger) Baker of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, Jay (Cathy) Mills of Strawberry Point, and Linda (Scott) Palzkill of Linden, Wisconsin; stepmother, Judy Mills of Nauvoo, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Katherine Thompson of Tennessee, Barb (Wayne) Stevens of Virginia, Linda (Dean) Timmins of Washington, and Becky (Craig) Mattson of Fairfield; brothers-in-law, Dave (Regina) Schantz of Washington and Craig Manning of Fairfield; and many nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Margarete Mills; her parents-in-law, Don and Mary Schantz; sister-in-law, Mary Manning; and brother-in-law, Peter deGier.

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