Karen K. Willett

The family of Karen K. Willett, 82, of Brooklyn, is saddened to announce her passing on February 4, 2021 at the Brooklyn Community Estate Nursing Home. A private family service will be held at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn with Pastor Joyce Proctor officiating. Burial will be at the Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery, Brooklyn. Public visitation: 3-6 p.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn. Family will not be present during visitation. A memorial gathering will take place in the summer of 2021 around Karen’s birthday. Memorials may be contributed to the East Poweshiek Ambulance Service or Grace United Methodist Church, Brooklyn. Masks and social distancing will be required at all services. Kloster Funeral Home, Brooklyn is assisting the family with arrangements.

Karen will be deeply missed by her son, David Willett of Brooklyn; her sister, Sheryl (Darrell) Spain of Montezuma, their son Jim Spain of Des Moines; her grandson, Brian Willett, his wife, Carly, and their children, Nathan and Hannah, of Muscatine; her granddaughter, Ashlee Ament, and her son, Logan, of Brooklyn; her very dear friends, Ed and Terri Ament of Brooklyn, other relatives, the members of Grace United Methodist Church, and the entire Brooklyn Community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Maxine Ketels; her infant brother, Stephen Ketels; her sister, Judy Ketels; her husband, Ralph Willett; her nephew, Jeff Spain, her brother-in-law Robert Willett and his wife Helen.

Karen was born in Poweshiek County on July 23, 1938. Her parents were Walter and Maxine (Miller) Ketels. Karen graduated from Montezuma High School in 1956 and later married Ralph Willett on November 3, 1957. They started married life on the family farm in rural Brooklyn and their son David was born during those years on the farm. They then moved to their home in South Brooklyn where David was raised. Karen worked at Taylor’s Insurance from 1968-1970 until becoming the City Clerk of Brooklyn. Karen devoted the next 33 years of her life to being Brooklyn’s City Clerk until her retirement in 2004. Karen was a very active member of South Side Circle and Grace United Methodist Church. She taught many years of Sunday School and enjoyed helping with kids’ club. Karen was the Treasurer of the Brooklyn Activity Center and volunteered at the Brooklyn Flag Store. In Karen’s free time, she enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities, going for walks, gardening, planting flowers, and watching the birds at her feeders. Karen also enjoyed collecting bells, working on word searches, putting puzzles together, reading books, and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes.