Karen Bernice Pfantz, the daughter of Walter and Tressie (Van Wyk) Vander Zyl, was born Sept. 19, 1938, in rural Sully. Karen, age 87, died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at her home in Newton.
Karen had worked at Thombert Inc. in Newton for 25 years. She then worked for a time for Pyramid and Peck Daycare in Newton. She married Ira "Ike" R. Pfantz on Nov. 29, 1986, in Newton. Karen was a longtime member of Community Heights Alliance Church. She was an artist and painter, having worked on the painting of "Pop Lynn" at the Newton High School. Karen enjoyed gardening, sewing, canning, reading in God's Word and doing her devotions, and thrifting.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ike on Jan. 3, 2014; her son Daniel Dahlin on Sept. 7, 2021; her stepgrandson Jeremy Bryant; her sister Donna Baarda; and her brother Howard Vander Zyl.
Those left to honor Karen's memory include her daughters Melody (Garry) Landgrebe and Amy (Tim) Clark; her daughter-in-law Paula Dahlin; her grandchildren Kenneth (Kim) Landgrebe, Kerri Robinson (Jon Vrabec), Cory (Ashley) Clark, Brooks (Shannon) Clark, and Tyler Clark; her 11 great- grandchildren; and her sister Marcille Bosveld.
Graveside services are being planned for the spring. Memorials may be designated in Karen's name to MercyOne Hospice and may be left at Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton.
