Karen Elizabeth Gaffey , 74, of Columbia, Missouri, formerly of Le Mars, passed away Monday, November 18, 2019, after a short cancer illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. James Church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will be after 4 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2019 at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. There will be a Parish Rosary at 5 p.m., and a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com .

Karen Elizabeth Dreckman was born August 21, 1945, in Le Mars, the daughter of Milton and Charlotte (Eilers) Dreckman. She grew up on a farm north of Le Mars and graduated from Gehlen Catholic High School in 1964. After graduation Karen was employed at Floyd Valley Hospital in the dietary department and continued to work there for many years. She met Dick Gaffey and together they purchased the M & M Bar in Le Mars and renamed it the K & D Corral which Dick operated while Karen continued to work at the hospital. After running the business for several years, they sold it and moved to Columbia, Missouri. She married Dick Gaffey on October 24, 1983. While living in Columbia, they purchased the Bonne Femme Mobile Trailer Park which she operated until her passing.

Karen loved Columbia but was hoping to someday move back to Le Mars to be closer to family. She was a great lover of animals, especially German Shephard dogs. She loved country music with Charlie Pride being one of her favorites. Karen loved stage shows so she always made an effort to get to the Brown's Theatre when she was in town. One of her greatest passions was WWF Wrestling. She semi-retired after becoming ill and was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Columbia.

Survivors include one brother, Jerome (Eileen) Dreckman, five sisters, Charlene Rowan, Marlis (Wayne) Thieman, Joel (Pat) Halter, Mary Kay (Dick) Halter, Lisa (Bob) Puetz, two sister in laws, Debbie Dreckman, all of Le Mars, and Donna Dreckman of Orange City, many nieces and nephews and a close friend, Jane.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Gaffey, her parents, two brothers, David and Michael (Sod) Dreckman, two brothers in law, Donnie Rowan, Lee Oordt, and a nephew Jason Puetz.