Karen E. (Kedley) Tritz

Karen E. (Kedley) Tritz, 78 of rural St. Donatus, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday afternoon March 1, 2025 at Hawkeye Care Center. She lived a life rooted in faith and guided by the Catholic church. She was born on April 27, 1946 in Cascade, Iowa to parents Curtis and Mae (Schwendinger) Kedley. 

Karen is a 1964 graduate of Acquin High School in Cascade. She married the love of her life, Lyle Tritz on August 19, 1967 and spent 57 years on the family farm just east of St. Donatus. They raised four beautiful children Kevin (Diana) Tritz of St. Donatus, Iowa; Julie Tritz of Huntington, W.Va.; Kimberly (Leonard) Tritz of Asbury, Iowa, and John (Chasity) Tritz of Lewiston, Idaho.

Karen faithfully attended St. Donatus Catholic Church for many years. She was a hard worker and helped Lyle on the dairy farm with chores, stacking hay, gardening, canning, mowing grass, and making her delicious rhubarb jelly every spring and chocolate chip cookies every week. Once the children were older, she worked off the farm at Ensing in Bellevue for several years, followed by time as a CNA at Mount Carmel, and the Visitation, and finally with Housekeeping at Finley Hospital for 21 years. Her and Lyle enjoyed sitting on the back porch watching the sun set, playing cards with their many friends, quiet drives in the countryside in search of a good diner to enjoy a meal together, and traveling to see family. 

She will be deeply missed. Those left to honor Karen’s memory include her husband and four children and spouses, as well as a twin sister, Sharon (Ronald) Kueter, brothers Jon Curtis Kedley, and Bruce (Sandy) Kedley; five grandchildren Logan, Katie, Sophie, Madisyn, and Eloise; sisters-in-law Mary C. Tritz, Jacqueline (Tritz) Kremer; brother-in law John A. Tritz, and the beloved family cat Turbo.

She is preceded in death by her parents along with sister Jane Smith, sister-in-law Pao Ching Tritz, brothers-in-law Charles Smith and Henry Kremer; and Lyle’s parents, Agnes and John C. Tritz. 

Visitation will be held at Hachmann-Mier Funeral Home on Friday March 7 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with a funeral mass on Saturday March 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Donatus, Catholic Church. Graveside service to follow at St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Donatus Catholic Church Restoration Project (https://sjandspp.com/sdcampaign) in Karen’s memory. 

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hachmannfuneralhome.com