Karen Verdell Todd, 81, passed away unexpectedly of natural causes at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 3:20 p.m.

Karen was born on January 16, 1945, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to Ben and Hazel Hartman. She grew up in Schaller and Alta, Iowa. In 1961, her family moved to Auburndale, Wisconsin to begin farming. Karen quickly made friends and was named Homecoming Queen in 1962.

On October 5, 1963, Karen married Robert Leroy Todd. They met while Karen was a carhop at the A&W in Storm Lake, Iowa. Their life together was built around family, faith, and tradition. Together, they raised four children.

Karen was primarily a homemaker and found great joy in cooking and caring for her family. She had a special gift for making holidays meaningful, creating traditions, and filling her home with warmth, laughter, good food, and love. Those traditions will continue to be carried forward by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Family was at the center of Karen and Robert's life together. When they gathered, there were often cards or board games, plenty of laughter, and time simply spent enjoying one another. Karen and Robert loved fishing trips to Minnesota and spending time outdoors, especially in the fall, which became a particularly special season for their family, made even more meaningful by their October anniversary.

Karen’s faith was a very important part of her life. She and Robert began their spiritual journey together at Falls Avenue Wesleyan Church in the late 1970s and remained faithful servants throughout the years, most recently attending Sent Church. Her faith was reflected in the way she lived—through her kindness, generosity, compassion, and love for others.

One of Karen's proudest and most memorable accomplishments was opening Karen's Country Tea Room in her home just outside of Wellsburg, Iowa. From 2000 to 2008, she welcomed more than 1,400 people into her home, serving delicious homemade meals and creating an experience filled with hospitality, conversation, laughter, and love. She remembered those years with tremendous fondness and often spoke of them as some of the happiest times of her life. It gave her such great joy to welcome people into her home and make them feel special. The tea room was a perfect reflection of Karen—warm, welcoming, generous, and full of joy.

Karen's soft and gentle spirit touched so many people. She always had a compliment to share and had a way of making people feel seen and valued. She was genuinely interested in others and always made everyone feel welcome. She was extraordinarily funny, made friends easily, and was just as kind to strangers as she was to those she loved. Her warmth and genuine love for people were unmistakable.

Karen's greatest legacy, however, was the love she gave to her family. They are heartbroken by her sudden passing and will miss her more than words can express. Yet they are grateful for the beautiful life she lived, the faith she shared, the love she gave so freely, the holidays and traditions she made special, the laughter she brought, and the countless lives she touched.

Karen is survived by her husband, Robert; her children, Sheri (Chuck) Melby, Troy (Georgie) Todd, Tonya Todd, and Angie (Kenny) Bergmann; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Hazel Hartman, her siblings, Robert, Don, and Glen Hartman, and her Great Aunt, Bessie.

Her family will see her in the colors of fall, hear her in laughter around a card table, remember her around a family meal, and carry her traditions forward with every generation. She will be profoundly missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 17 at 10:30 AM at Sent Church, Cedar Falls. Refreshments and fellowship will be held following the service at Bridges Senior Living, in Waterloo.