Karen (Beard) Lemke

Karen (Beard) Lemke, 66, of Winfield, passed away surrounded by family in her childhood home on Monday, April 24, 2023. Graveside services and interment will be held at 4:30 p.m. on June 3, 2023 at the Winfield-Scott Cemetery in Winfield, Iowa. A memorial has been established for expenses. Please send memorials to Karen Lihs c/o Susan Beard, 210 N. Olive Street, Winfield, IA 52659. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.

Karen Beth Beard was born on June 2, 1956 in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the daughter of Richard D. and Evelyn (Degen) Beard. Karen was a 1974 graduate of Winfield-Mt. Union High School. On October 19, 1975 she was united in marriage to Harlan “Pork” Lemke in Winfield. They later divorced.

Karen worked in the restaurant business most of her life. She was the co-owner of Pork’s Hometown Restaurant in Winfield. She was involved in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts for many years, women’s church groups and activities and Santa’s Gift Shop at WMU. She loved WMU, Iowa Hawkeyes, especially Gabbie Marshall on the women’s basketball team, Chicago Cubs and the Kansas City Chiefs. She also enjoyed fishing, playing solitaire, coloring and word searches.

Karen will be deeply missed by her three sons: Brian Lemke and Robin Wheeler of Guthrie, OK; Greg Lemke and Jennifer Wade of Winfield, IA; and Richard and Bob Littleton of Independence, MO; four grandchildren: Dayton, Jaycee, Tayze and Khaid Lemke; seven siblings: Rich, Debbie, Cindy, Bruce, Susan, Linda and Cheryl; and aunts, one uncle, cousins and many nieces and nephews.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.   

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