Karen Cass, 86, of Fontanelle

Funeral Services: Will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle with burial following in the Fontanelle Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home following the burial. Pastor Melinda Stonebraker will officiate the service. The Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com.

Open Visitation: Will be held at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Fontanelle from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials: To the Karen Cass Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

Karen Kay (Frank) Cass passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, at Greenfield Manor in Greenfield, Iowa. Karen was born on February 19, 1940, in Adair County, Iowa, to Edgar Lawrence and Ruth Evelyn (Edwards) Frank.

She attended Fontanelle School and graduated from Bridgewater-Fontanelle High School in 1958. Karen was always proud of being a member of the 1958 Bridgewater-Fontanelle girls 6-6 basketball team that qualified and played at the Iowa State Basketball tournament. On June 7, 1958, Karen was united in marriage to Ralph Dean Cass. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work on their farm near Fontanelle. Karen devoted much of her life to caring for others through her many roles as a farm wife, florist at Fountain Florist, pre-kindergarten assistant teacher at Bridgewater-Fontanelle preschool, elementary school cook, and housekeeper for the elderly.

Karen was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years. Karen and Dean were youth group leaders. Karen also served as communion steward for many years, making many loaves of homemade bread and sharing the leftover bread with all the little kids after the service. Karen cleaned the church and kept it sparkling for every event.

Karen enjoyed the simple blessings of country life and found joy in working on the farm, tending her weedless garden and beautiful flowers, raising hogs and chickens, fishing, sewing, and quilting. Above all, she had a deep passion for serving others, especially her family, whom she loved dearly. Fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and any kind of pie were special family favorites. When Karen said, “It’s ready” everyone rushed to the kitchen. Together, Dean and Karen raised and sold chickens and eggs. Even in her last days, she was asking others if they needed eggs. Karen always made sure everyone was ‘“alright.” After the passing of their mother, Karen’s younger brother and sister, Dennis and Kaylene spent many hours at the farm and were cared for and held as close as her own children.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ralph Dean Cass of Fontanelle, Iowa; her children, Mikeal (Tammie) Cass of Atlantic, Iowa; Patrick (Andrea) Cass of Fontanelle, Iowa; and Cynthia (Steven) Burg of Murray, Nebraska. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Kelsie (Adam) Kralik of Atlantic, Iowa; Austin Burg of Murray, Nebraska; Christopher (Jenna) Cass of Bondurant, Iowa; Amber (Zach) Schroeder of Murray, Nebraska; Brandon (Kaylin) Cass of Kansas City, Missouri; and Adrienne Cass of Altoona, Iowa; along with her great-grandchildren, Cooper Cass, Kayleigh Cass, Elijah Schroeder, and Kashten Kralik. Karen is also survived by her siblings, David (Linda) Frank of Yuma, Colorado; Dennis (Debbie) Frank of Fontanelle, Iowa; and Kaylene Whittlesey of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and sister-in-law Betty Weinheimer, of Fontanelle, Iowa as well as many nieces and nephews. Karen will be remembered for her caring heart, strong work ethic, and unwavering devotion to her family, her church and her community.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Ruth Frank as well as father and mother-in-law Ed and Jane Cass.