Karen L Ackerman-Timmons

Melvin, Iowa Karen L. Ackerman-Timmons, age 68 of Melvin, IA and Kerkhoven, MN, died Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 13th at American Lutheran Church in Melvin, IA, with Rev. David Finley officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Harris, IA. Visitation will be Friday, December 12th from 2:00 " 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Karen Louise Ackerman-Timmons was born October 11, 1940 in Ocheyedan, Iowa, the daughter of Hartley Hi and Alice Louise (Immens) Jurgensen. Karen grew up living in Harris, IA and attended the Harris Community Schools. Karen was married to Stanley Ackerman on September 26, 1959. They were later blessed with five children. They moved to Kerkhoven, MN were she worked a short time at Jenny O Foods in Wilmar, MN and helped her husband farm. In 1960 they moved to Kansas City, MO and worked at General Mills. Later they returned to the Harris and Ocheyedan area where Karen worked for a few years at Berkeleys in Spirit Lake, IA and also continued to farm. In 1982 Karen and Stanley moved to Bakersfield, CA and lived there until 1992, when they returned to Iowa, living in Melvin, IA. In May of 2001, Karens husband Stanley died after 41 years of marriage. Karen remained living in Melvin, IA. On December 23, 2004 Karen was remarried to Marvin J. Timmons in Sioux Falls, SD. Together they maintained two residences, one in Kerkhoven, MN and the other in Melvin, IA. Karen was a member of the United Methodist Church in Melvin. She enjoyed collecting dolls and was an avid Elvis fan. She also loved attending auctions and garage sales. She was especially fond of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her dog, Roy. Karen and Marvin enjoyed wintering in Texas and Arizona and many bus trips. Karen was recently undergoing medical treatment, when she unexpectedly died from health complications at the age of 68. Karens family will remember their wife, mother and grandmother as a loving person with a heart of gold. Even through the difficult times she always managed to live life with her upbeat attitude. Karen is survived by her husband of nearly four years, Marvin Timmons of Kerkhoven, MN; two daughters, Becky (David) Heitritter of Melvin, IA and Brenda Cammann of Melvin, IA; three sons, Todd (Sue) Ackerman of Ocheyedan, IA, Troy (Jackie) Ackerman of Sheldon, IA and Stan (Aggie) Ackerman of Hatfield, MN; three step-daughters, Jean (Chuck) Rustad of Kerkhoven, MN, Barb Larson of Bakersfield, CA and Linda (Terry) McKinzie of Plymouth, MN; two step-sons, John (Jorene) Timmons and David (Sue) Timmons, both of Kerkhoven, MN; twelve grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sixteen step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Gary (Karen) Jurgensen of Round Lake, MN; a sister-in-law, Marlene Jurgensen of Worthington, MN; and a host of many other extended family, friends and her dog, Roy. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Stanley Ackerman; a brother, Bill Jurgensen; a son-in-law, Barry Cammann; sister-in-law, Lorrane Nicla and a grandson, Travis Baker.