Karen Ann Malloy

April 23, 1946 - October 10, 2021

    Karen Ann Malloy passed away in Sioux City, Iowa on October 10, 2021 after a year-long battle with lung cancer and a recent stroke.  A friends and family visitation will be held on Thursday October 14 from 5-7 pm at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.  Karen’s funeral service will be held at Immaculate Conception Church, Sioux City, Iowa, on Friday, October 15 at 10:30 am.  Lunch will be provided after the service.  Burial will be in the Dakota City Cemetery.  The service will be live streamed at https://youtu.be/6cVmIlWAyMo and online condolences may be made to www.meyerbroschapels.com. 

    Karen was born on April 23rd, 1946 in Oakland, Nebraska to Mark and Ann Malloy. She grew up on the family farm near Decatur, Nebraska.  At the age of 5, on her very first day of school, she got sick and was diagnosed with Polio.  She spent 6 months in a polio ward in Omaha and suffered a life-long weakness on her right side.  The effects of her polio never stopped her will to participate in any outdoor activity, always barefoot, having fun with her brothers and many cousins.  Her classmates remember countless hijinks she invented and many fond memories of their time with her.

    She graduated from Decatur High School, spent one year in nurses training in Omaha, then decided to get her degree as a dental assistant from W.I.T.  After working as a dental assistant for 13 years, post-polio symptoms prevented her from continuing this work so she attended Briar Cliff and W.I.T. earning another degree in golf course and landscaping management. Karen opened her own lawn care and landscaping service and kept three Jewish cemeteries and many private homes and businesses looking their best. She retired in 2011. 

    She was a genius with flowers and shrubs and loved spending time making her yard perfect.  She loved any and all animals and took care of many stray cats and dogs.  Her sense of humor and zest for life will be remembered by all who knew her.    Karen was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Church.   

    Left to cherish her memory are her brothers Pat Malloy(San Angelo, Tx), Fr. Mike Malloy(Norfolk, NE), Joe (Roberta) Malloy(Decatur, NE), nephews Brent (Cara Sakurai) Malloy(San Jose, CA), Evan Malloy(Lincoln NE), Patrick (Christine)Keefe(Kyle TX), Daniel(Caiti) Malloy (San Marcos TX),  nieces Megan(Blake) Ebbers ( Adams,NE) , great nieces Mina Malloy, Kyra and Avery Ebbers, great nephews Kai Malloy and Brayden Keefe, her aunt Betty Buehre(Salem, OR), many cousins,  her best friend and caretaker Susan Young, her faithful dog and many friends too numerous to mention but they all know who they are.

    She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and sister-in-law Cheryl Malloy.   Donations in her name may be made to the Food Bank of Siouxland or Noah’s Hope.    Special thanks to the doctors and staff at June E. Nylen Cancer Center, the nurses and staff at Mercy One 6th floor SW, Larry Blair (her security angel), nurses and staff at Countryside Senior Living Center and Hospice of Siouxland.        

Information taken from the May 1989 25th Decatur Alumni Booklet

Karen owns her own lawn service and has several clients.  She does gardening and landscaping.  Her hobbies are gardening and flowers.