Karen Joy (Geyer) Kellenberger, age 69, died peacefully at home November 21, 2023, surrounded by family and hymns of heaven, after a six year battle with multiple myeloma. Karen was born September 13, 1954, in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Walter and Hazel (Wiegand) Geyer. Karen married the love of her life, Ricky Kellenberger, on December 30, 1972. Shortly after, they gave their hearts to Jesus and joined the Apostolic Christian Church in Sabetha, KS, and have served the Lord together the past 51 years. Over the next 9 years of Veterinary Medical School, and then Medical School, she accompanied her husband to Manhattan, KS, Normal, Ill, McHenry Ill, Oak Forest, Ill, Carson City, MI, Grand Rapids, MI, and Emmetsburg, IA. Karen worked constantly at different jobs in different cities until the birth of her first child. Rick has always acknowledged that he would not have gotten through the many years of schooling without Karen’s financial and emotional support. She stood by Rick through 9 years of education, and 43 years of medical practice, enabling him to care for his patients. Everywhere they lived, they were active in their church. In 1985 they settled for 19 years in the West Bend, IA area where Rick worked as a rural family doctor. Karen raised their 5 children while managing the Dairy Queen Rick and Karen built in Emmetsburg, IA. Everyone that knew Karen recognized her as a dedicated hard worker with a friendly smile.
Karen and Rick returned to Kansas in 2000, initially living in Stillwell, KS. In 2001, they moved to Fort Scottto establish a private general practice near their daughter. They purchased a small farm and Karen thrived in her new role as a farmwife and loved to watch the sunset over their ponds.
Karen brought a passion for music, especially in bringing glory to God. She taught herself guitar and loved to play for family singing events over the years. She also obtained her private pilot’s license to add a safety factor while flying with Rick. She and Rick enjoyed many Canadian and Minnesota fishing trips, some of which included flying.
Karen had a strong sense of humor and soft heart for any person or animal that was hurting. She ended up with many feral cats, as she fed each stray cat. She was a great listener and affirmer, and made each person feel special when listening. She loved to sing at church events and sang at every opportunity.
In addition to her Savior, her dearest joy was her family. She diligently attended all events involving her grandchildren. She read books, played games, and invested in knowing every grandchild, including her most recent grand daughter, Juliana.
She will be missed not only by her husband Rick, but by her children/spouses Robin (Justin) Moser of Redondo Beach, CA, Kent(Kelsey) of Lenexa, Kansas, Kristi (Trent) Banwart of Fort Scott, Amber (Ryan) Lewis of Fort Scott, and Ryan (Adrienne) of Fort Scott, as well as her brothers Roger (Melanie) Geyer, Dale (Barb) Geyer, and Walter (Bonnie) Geyer. Her 18 grandchildren (Cody, Garrett, and Natalie Moser; Ellieana and Juliana Kellenberger; Benjamin, Josiah, Noelle, Chloe, Anika, and Ezra Banwart;
Micah, Owen, Hannah, and Cooper Lewis; and Calvin, Ainsley, and Claire Kellenberger) will miss her dearly. Yet they celebrate her faith as Christians themselves. She is preceded in death by her parents.
The family will receive friends from6 to 8 P.M. Saturday, December 2nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, December 3rd at the Apostolic Christian Church in Ft. Scott, Kansas and a graveside service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, December 4th at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Memorials are suggested to Ft. Scott Christian Heights School or to the Apostolic Christian Harvest Call and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook atcheneywitt.com.
