Sister Mary Karen Jasper, PBVM, 87, died on Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Sisters of the Presentation (Mount Loretto), 2360 Carter Road.

On Thursday, November 30, friends may call from 9:30 – 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Chapel, Sisters of the Presentation, where there will be a wake service at 9:30 a.m. and funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West.

Sister Mary Karen, daughter of Tony and Clara (Anstoetter), was born Vera Cecelia Jasper on March 15, 1936, in Farley, Iowa.  She entered the Sisters of the Presentation on September 8, 1953, and professed her perpetual vows on August 22, 1961.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Clarke College (now Clarke University) in Dubuque, Iowa, and a Master of Science from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Sister Karen’s ministries took her to Osage, Dougherty, Charles City, Ryan, Epworth, Sheldon, Algona, Bode and Waukon, all in Iowa, where she taught and served as a principal. She also served as co-director and pastoral minister of Nagle Center, caring for sick and elderly sisters at Mount Loretto. She retired to Mount Loretto in 2009 and celebrated her 60^th Jubilee in 2013. Reflecting on her jubilee, Sister Karen stated, “Our foundress Nano Nagle’s prayerfulness and readiness to serve wherever she was inspired me. I am grateful for the example of my sister, Sister Mary Philip Jasper, and the Presentation Sisters who taught me for 12 years. I have enjoyed wherever I have been in mission. I felt successful and ready to serve wherever I was called.” Sister Karen enjoyed nature walks, crafts, word games, puzzles, reading and writing. She valued prayer and community service.

Surviving are her sister Mary Smith, nieces, nephews, and the Sisters of the Presentation with whom she shared her life for 70 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Sister Mary Philip Jasper, PBVM, Rita Schwendinger, and Lois Hoeger; her brothers, Leroy, John and James; and her brothers-in-law Gerald Schwendinger, Joseph Hoeger and Orlin Smith.

The Leonard Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Presentation, 2360 Carter Road, Dubuque, IA 52001 or online at: www.dbqpbvms.org.