Karen Fuller Obituary

JESUP – Karen L. Fuller, 83 years old, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and formerly of Jesup, Iowa, died peacefully Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Oak Park Estates in Cedar Falls, surrounded by loved ones.
Funeral Services were Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the First Presbyterian Church, Jesup, with burial at the Cedar Crest Cemetery, Jesup.
Visitation was Monday, July 28, 2025, at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, and for an hour before services, Tuesday, at the church.
She was born Karen Lee Vye on December 1, 1941, in Hampton, Iowa, to Tim and LaVonne Vye as the oldest of three daughters. She attended school in both Hansell and Hampton, where she excelled at English and writing and was a cheerleader for the Hansell Huskies, before graduating from Hampton High School in 1960. During this time, she worked for her family's business, Hansell Corner, a restaurant and gas station, in many roles, from peeling potatoes to pumping gas.
After high school, Karen attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, and received a Junior Secretarial Diploma in 1961. She married her high school sweetheart, Richard Russell Smith, on June 30, 1962, in Hampton, and together they had two daughters. The couple later divorced amicably and remained friends. She married Thomas M. Fuller on December 22,1980, and moved to Jesup, her home, for nearly forty years.
Karen had jobs at Rath Packing Company, Cedar Bulletin Office, Hawkeye Institute of Technology, and Loewi & Co. before starting her career with John Deere in 1977, working at the Product Engineering Center in Waterloo, Iowa, until her retirement in 2001.
A faithful Christian, Karen was very involved with her church. She attended First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls for many years before attending First Presbyterian Church of Jesup, and was especially involved with youth programs, leading Sunday School and WOW (Worship on Wednesdays). She played the piano and organ for church services, sang in the choir, and enjoyed volunteering for the annual pancake breakfast. In addition, Karen would volunteer with the nursing home in Independence, Iowa, reading and playing piano for the residents, and volunteered with the Independence Area Food Pantry.
Karen loved her family dearly. She was a Girl Scout troop leader for both her daughters and taught them piano lessons. She attended many sporting events and school performances for her twelve grandchildren. With her husband Tom, she traveled to several states to visit family. She had many close friends and hosted game nights at her home in Jesup.
She had many passions. She was a talented pianist and enjoyed playing and singing for her loved ones. She loved Elvis Presley. She was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and she was excited to follow along with Caitlin Clark's success. She enjoyed any movie starring Richard Gere or Harrison Ford, and she was enthusiastic about her love for a cold Diet Coke. Above all, Karen was a warm, caring soul who loved connecting with anyone she met.
Karen is survived by her two daughters, Joleyne (Barry) Kramer of Hudson, Iowa, and Lori (Trent) Hill of Cedar Falls; four step-children: Brent (Gui) Fuller of Phoenix, Arizona, Scott (Nikki) Fuller of Waterloo, Linnae (Todd) Fuller of Timnath, Colorado, and Clint (Brooke) Fuller of Cedar Falls; twelve grandchildren: Tyler (Hanna) Hill, John Kramer, Alex Hill, Jaimie (Drew) Motl, Brandon (Baylea) Hill, Anna Fuller, Lindsey Fuller, Ben (Amy) Mulder, Brody Hartwig, Addison Fuller, Adrienne Fuller, and Thomas Fuller; as well as four great-grandchildren: Vincent, Logan, Viviann, and Penelope, with another great-grandson and great-granddaughter on the way; also, her two younger sisters, Pat (Paul) Kukula Newton, Kansas, and Cathy (Darrell) Hill, Las Vegas, Nevada.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Tim and LaVonne Vye; as well as her husband of forty-one years, Tom Fuller.
Memorials may be directed to the church or to the family to be given to organizations that were important to Karen.
Condolences may be placed at www.White-MtHope.com.
White Funeral Home, Jesup, is in charge of arrangements.