Karen K. Engeltjes

Sioux Center, Iowa formerly of Archer, Iowa

Karen K. Engeltjes, 83, of Sioux Center formerly of Archer passed away on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Sioux Center Hospital.  Her celebration of life will be at 10 A.M. on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Archer Community Church in Archer with Rev. Jacob Sandholm, officiating.

Burial will be at a later date.

Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 P.M. on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Karen Kaye Engeltjes

April 17, 1943 – May 1, 2026

Karen Kaye Engeltjes, age 83, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2026. Born on April 17, 1943, in Adrian, Minnesota, to Robert and Pearl Brunk, Karen was baptized on June 27, 1943, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Rushmore, Minnesota, and confirmed on April 14, 1957, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ireton, Iowa.

The Brunk family eventually made their home in Maurice, Iowa where Karen and her twin sister Sharon, graduated from Maurice-Orange City High School. It was there Karen met the love of her life, Bill Engeltjes, and they were married June 14, 1963 at the Presbyterian Church in Boyden, Iowa, beginning a devoted partnership that would span decades.

Karen and Bill eventually settled into their long-time family home in Archer, Iowa, where Karen devoted herself to their two daughters, staying home to raise them. Later she worked at Joyce’s Grocery Store and the Sheldon Retirement Home, and for more than 30 years faithfully cared for the Archer United Methodist Church – a ministry of service that reflected her generous spirit.

Karen’s greatest joy was her family. She poured her love into homemade meals and baking, gardening, and created a warm and welcoming home, and a quiet, steady presence. Her face lit up when she greeted friends and family, particularly her grandchildren, Pearl and Archer, who held a very special place in her heart – she enjoyed watching them play sports, perform in concerts, and in school plays.

Karen was a woman of many talents and passions. She sang alto in church and carried her love of music throughout her life – listening to records and the radio and dancing with Bill whenever the music called. She was an avid reader who regularly traded books with her sister Barb, always eager for the next good story. And she was a true sportswoman: Karen played softball, volleyball, racquetball and was a skilled bowler, often sharing the court and lanes with her sister-in-laws Alma and Connie, and sister MaryAnn.

She also deeply loved time spent with her sisters and lifelong friends – laughing, visiting and simply being together. In her later years, Karen and Bill moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to be closer to their daughters’ families and to receive additional care and support as she navigated dementia.

Karen is survived by her husband of 63 years, Bill Engeltjes; her daughters, Teresa Engeltjes of Minneapolis, and Kim Zemple and husband Chad of Minneapolis; her grandchildren, Pearl and Archer Zemple; her sister, MaryAnn Wielenga; her sister and brother-in-law Barb and Larry Siege; her sisters-in-laws Gert Faber, Connie Pennings and Thelma Brunk; and her brothers and sisters-in-law, Judy and Garry Engeltjes, Don Engeltjes, Larry and Sue Engeltjes, and Dave Engeltjes.

She was preceded in death by her twin sister and dear companion, Sharon Faye Reinking, her nephew Randy Reinking; her brother Bob Brunk; her brother-in-laws Harry Faber, Arlan Reinking and Larry Wielenga; her sisters-in-laws, Mary Engeltjes and Alma Engeltjes; and her parents Robert and Pearl Brunk.