Karen Marie Tenley, age 82, of Stanwood, passed away Sunday September 20, 2026 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Wednesday, September 23rd from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Stanwood Union Church. Funeral services will also be held at Stanwood Union Church on Thursday, September 24th at 10:30 AM with Pastor Theodora Okine and Pastor Ron Lashmit officiating. Burial will follow at Stanwood Cemetery. There will be a luncheon following the burial at the church.

Karen was born June 13, 1944 in Cedar Rapids to Lumir and Edith (Baird) Holets. She was married to John Tenley on February 22, 1964 in Mechanicsville, and they spent 62 years by each other’s side.

Karen was a member of a large and loving family, and she is survived by her husband John; her daughter Rhonda (Todd) Myrvik of West Branch; her son Jeff (Tawnua) of Mount Vernon; her grandchildren Jacob (Sarah) Myrvik of Waterloo, Josh (Skylar) Fell of Ankeny, Konnor (Michelle) Myrvik of Coralville, and Rachael (Cody) Howard of Anamosa; her great grand-children Koji and Mia Myrvik of Coralville; and her siblings Richard Baird of Clarence, Robert (Glenda) Holets of Tipton, Pat (Wally) Moeller of Tipton, Cheryl (Leroy) Stolte of Stanwood, Frank (Deanna) Holets of Cedar Rapids, Lary Holets of Tipton, Rita (Dean) Wolfe of Stanwood and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Judy Keller, Janice Linn, and Linda Black; her brothers-in-law Max Keller, Charles Linn, and Royal Black; and her sisters-in-law, Angie Baird and Haeng Sun Holets.

Karen worked for 30 years in accounting at Claney & Corbett in Clarence where she performed all aspects of bookkeeping and income tax returns. She retired in 2009. Karen had many hobbies including gardening, watching the birds and butterflies from her backyard swing, watching old movies, doing all kinds of puzzles, knitting and crocheting, watching sports and attending theatre performances, in particular everything that her grandkids were in.

Karen devoted her life to caring for others - her family, her friends, her church, and her community. She loved planning and organizing reunions, outings and get-togethers such as having tea parties with her sisters and other family. She was deeply interested in family history, helping put together a display for her father, Lumir Holets, that was recently displayed at the Mechanicsville Historical Society.

She was an active member of Stanwood Union Church, rarely missing a Sunday. She served as treasurer for 33 years, served on several committees, and she enjoyed the fellowship of the Union Church Circle, on which she served as president and treasurer. Karen served her community through her membership in the Stanwood Lions Club where she served as treasurer and was a member for over 30 years. Karen exemplified the Lions Club motto “We Serve.”

Karen’s family will miss being beaten by her in all manner of games, her joyful laughter and her teasing nature.

In lieu of plants or flowers, memorials may be directed to either Camp Courageous in Monticello or Stanwood Union Church.