Karen Williams Erickson, 67, of Des Moines, passed away in her home surrounded by family and friends on September 18, 2020. This was when her year long fight with cancer ended. She is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Roberta Williams, and her husband, Bruce Erickson. She is survived by her two children, Mike (Shannon) Erickson and Katie (Dan) Erickson, her three grandchildren Joe, Hannah, and Ruthie and her sister, Susan Taylor.

Karen was born in Des Moines on June 5, 1953 to Carl and Roberta Williams. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1971. On June 24, 1972, she married Bruce Erickson in Des Moines.

Before her retirement, Karen was a childbirth educator through the Iowa Health System, a childcare provider in home and for First Assembly of God Church, a receptionist in Women’s Services, an in-home care provider for adults with disabilities through LINK Associates, and a practice patient for medical students at Des Moines University. She even serves them after her passing by donating her body to Des Moines University for medical studies.

When Karen was not working, she was having adventures with her family and friends. She and Bruce enjoyed picking wildflowers and birdwatching. She loved to go to lunch with her kids, her grandkids, and her friends. She loved to try new foods, new restaurants, new gadgets, and new products. She organized “grandma camp” and art days with her grandkids. She and Bruce started a yearly tradition of taking their grandkids to the pumpkin farm, which she continued with Shannon every year until she passed. She enjoyed trips with family and friends to see Van Morrison, visit a charming town, go boating, or go antiquing. Her faith in Christ was also very important to her. She was an active member of Lutheran Church of Hope. She took a missions trip to Africa and volunteered with Meals From the Heartland and Night to Shine. She never met a stranger and she made friends wherever she went.

Her love of travel began when she and Bruce visited Katie when she spent a semester in Wales. After Bruce passed, she began to make frequent trips to the UK and made many lasting friends “across the pond.” She visited their homes and they visited hers. She even became an honorary member of the Church of England!

Donations can be made in honor of her death to Meals From the Heartland, Ruth Harbor, MercyOne Hospice, and Lutheran Church of Hope.

A private Celebration of Life Service by invitation will be held due to the current health climate.

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