Karen Alice Boyd's Obituary
Karen Alice (Rugaard) Boyd Was born May 24,1943 in Audubon, Iowa to Thomas Johannes and Elbertha Jane (Thuesen) Rugaard. She passed away on Friday July 17, 2026, at home. She was 83 years old.
She was the eldest of four children. She grew up on a farm west of Audubon and attended school in town where she was a member of the glee club. She was also involved in 4-H.
She was baptized as an infant at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, went through Confirmation at age 14, and belonged to the youth group, The Sunday Night Luther League.
After high school she attended beauty school in Des Moines and worked as a nanny for a doctor. She one time locked him out of the house and he had to go back to the hospital to sleep.
While she was working as a waitress at George's Chili Parlor she met Jackie Marcele Boyd, Sr. On March 27, 1963 she became second mother to Jack Jr and Mark Duane Boyd. The addition of four more children, Jim, Peg, Penny, and Patti would complete their family.
They made their home in Des Moines where Karen was a homemaker. She took in ironing and did some babysitting.
They moved to Allerton in 1979 to get away from the city. Karen cleaned houses for a time and was eventually employed at the Wayne County Hospital in the housekeeping department. She worked there for 24 years and retired in 2007.
During her retirement, she enjoyed family time, helping with friendship meals in Allerton, baking lots of different kinds of quick breads, cleaning & bagging sinkers, embroidering, puzzles, relaxing and listening to Willie's Roadhouse. She also made several trips "up home" to visit her sister Kathleen, nieces and nephews, attend class reunions and hometown celebrations.
When her sister Kathleen would come to Allerton for a weekend visit, there was usually a game of Phase 10 played. She also enjoyed playing Dominoes with the grands and great grands and she loved watching the western channel.
Karen fought COPD for quite some time (she was the only one who didn't know she smoked!) and had several hospital stays for low oxygen and high c02 levels. Her last hospital stay was Nov 9 thru Nov 15, 2025. She came home with Every Step Hospice Care for COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. For the last 8 months, her children have been with her 24/7 meeting her daily needs along with the love, care and support of the Hospice Team. Such a blessing!
Left to cherish her memory include her son James Boyd, Peggy (Paul) Niday, Penny (Don) Briggle, Patti (Darin) Keller, Daughter-in-law, Sharon Boyd; Grandchildren, Jesse Bloom, Shon Boyd, Lesley Boyd, Jamaica (Kira) McNeeley, Eric (Brittany) McNeeley, Markus (Isabelle) Williams, Christina (Scott )Powers, Misti (Chaz)Salsberry, Syerra (Michael) Ewing, Justin (Lexi) Keller, Ethan (Janie) Niday, and Jessica (Zach) Crosby; 21 great grandchildren, 2 great-great grandchildren and 1 on the way; her sister, Kathleen (Rick) Bancroft; sister-in-law, Sue Rugaard, many nieces, nephews, and friends and former daughters-in-law, Melinda Marvelli and Pam Osberg.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack; parents, Thomas and Elbertha, father and mother-in-law Frank and Dorothy Boyd; sons, Jackie Marcele Boyd, Jr and Mark Duane Boyd; brothers, Robert and Regin Rugaard; sisters-in-law, Donna Rugaard and Peggy Cooper and brothers-in-law Kenneth Cooper and Rich Jensen, great granddaughter, Kelsey Boyd and great grandson, Wren Michael Ewing.
Funeral Services for Karen will be held Sunday, July 26, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon, IA. Visitation will be held Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon. Memorials in honor of Karen may be made to The Family of Karen Boyd and mailed to Thomas Funeral Home Attn: Boyd Family PO Box 294 Corydon, IA 50060.
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