Karen R. Pfab, 78, of Dubuque, Iowa passed away on November 24, 2024, at her home with her family by her side.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 2, 2024, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road with a wake service to be held at 3:45 p.m. Additional visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, at St. Joseph Key West Church with Msgr. Thomas Toale officiating. The burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

She graduated from Northeast High School in Elvira, IA, then went on to Mt. St. Claire in Clinton for two years and finished with her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Clarke College in Dubuque.  Karen went on to become a teacher for the Holy Family Catholic Schools.

Karen was born on August 25, 1946, in Preston, Iowa, the daughter of Benedict and Laurentia (Reuter) Roling. She married Eugene “Gene” Pfab on July 7, 1966, in Preston, Iowa.

She was very involved within her church, especially the choir and lecturing.  She was also active in the Red Hat club and TOPS.  She volunteered at the Arboretum, Meals on Wheels, DuRide and helped establish a cancer support group – which was special to her.

Her husband, Gene, was her best friend and travel companion.  Her kids were the ultimate joy of her life, and her grandchildren were her absolute blessings.

Karen is survived by her husband, Gene; her children, Sarah Ann (Jay) Cottrell and Jason (Vickie) Pfab; her grandsons, Brandon, Matthew, Ian, Dylan, and Louden; bonus granddaughters, Abigail (Kyle) Hammann, Haley Cottrell, and Monica (Caleb) Bulland; Six bonus great-grandchildren; sisters, Bertha Pfab, Doris Lawrence, Lois (Darrell) Trenkamp, RuthAnn (Terry) Hahn; brother, Lawrence (Joan) Roling; sisters in law, Veronica (Al) Burds, Eileen (Ray Bliesmer) Conlan-Morken; brothers-in-law, Richard (Sandy) Pfab, Robert (Barb) Pfab, Roger (Linda) Pfab, Delbert Pfab, Carl Pfab; sister-in-law, Gaby Pfab.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Hayley Ann Pfab; parents, Benedict and Laurentia Roling; siblings, Kenneth, Leo, and James Roling and Delores Woods; in-laws, John and Viola Pfab; sister-in-law, Pam Pfab; brothers-in-law, Clarence, Melvin, baby boy Pfab, Raymond, Leroy, David, and Gary Pfab.

The family would like to thank MercyOne Cancer Center, Dr. Engelman, Tammy Noonan and staff, along with Dr. Sullivan and Hospice of Dubuque for all of the support and kindness through this difficult time.