Karolyn Ortgies, 83, of Massena

Celebration of Life Services: Will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle with a luncheon immediately following the service.  Pastor Steven Broers will officiate the service.  Private family burial will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Adel, Iowa.  The Lamb Funeral Home in Massena is in charge of the professional arrangements.  Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com. 

Family Visitation:  The family will greet friends on Wednesday, April 10 2024, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. 

Memorials:  Memorial contributions may be made to the family or be directed in Karolyn’s name to the Alzheimer's Association. 

Karolyn Lo Ortgies peacefully passed, Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Exira Care Center after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Karolyn was born on January 11, 1941, in Atlantic, to Arnold and Erma (Petersen) Westphalen and grew up with her sister, Marilyn, on a farm west of Elk Horn. Following graduation from Elk Horn schools, she attended beauty school. Karolyn met Duane Ortgies while singing at a friend’s wedding where he was a groomsman, and they were married on May 31, 1964. Together they raised their son, Tony, and lived in Atlantic where Karolyn was a beautician. In 1984, she and Duane moved to Elk Horn and established The Travelling Companion bed and breakfast and tea room in their beautiful home. She later opened The Tinder Box gift shop in downtown Elk Horn. Along with being a successful businesswoman, she enjoyed singing, traveling in the U.S. and abroad with her husband, friends, and many cousins, spending time with her granddaughter, Clara, and volunteering at the Danish Museum of America in Elk Horn.

Karolyn is survived by her husband, Duane Ortgies; son and daughter-in-law, Tony and Sally Ortgies of West Des Moines; granddaughter, Clara Ortgies, and her fiancé, Matthew Schmitz of Urbandale; brother-in-law, Charles Hansen of Atlantic; sister-in-law, Ardith Ortgies of Des Moines; and nephews, Derek Hansen and Tom Hansen. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Marilyn Hansen, and nephew, Joel Hansen.