Karen Rose (Schuldt) Kray, 30 Apr 1942 - 01 May 2026

KRAY, SCHULDT, HILTON, FISER, DACHENBACH, SHOEMAN, LAUGHLIN, WELLS, COHEN, FRISTO, CARMEN

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 5/27/2026 at 14:17:26

Karen Rose (Schuldt) Kray, age 84, of Chariton, Iowa, passed away at Lucas County Health Center on May 1, 2026, surrounded by her loving husband and family.

Karen was born at home in Iowa County, near Marengo, Iowa on April 30, 1942, to Ralph and Famie (Fiser) Schuldt. In August 1946, Karen’s nineteen-month-old brother, Herbert John, passed away from a farm accident, which had a lasting effect on her. Later a sister, Linda Kay, and brother, Lee Allen, joined the family.

Karen attended several schools growing up including Norway, Blairstown, and Deep River, graduating from Atkins High School in 1960.

Karen married Larry C. Hilton on August 21, 1960; they divorced in 1966.

Karen married Delbert H. Kray at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on December 14, 1968. Del lovingly adopted her three children James, Angela, and Lisa; a daughter, Kristin, completed their family in 1971.

Karen was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Chariton, Iowa the past 49 years. She cherished her pastors over the years and her many friends in the church and in the community. She was so grateful for their prayers, cards, and loving care during her illness.

Karen’s hobbies were cooking, baking, gardening, and sewing. She loved to feed her entire family and serve them treats.

Karen worked at various places over the course of her life, including the Cedar Rapids Police Station, Peoples Bank and Trust in Cedar Rapids, and babysat several children. After moving to Chariton, and her family grown, she worked part time at The Sampler and Betty’s Fashion Corner until grandchildren came along and she had the finest job of all: babysitting her grandchildren, along with other playmates, and her two great-grandchildren occasionally. She was also active in the family business for several years.

Karen cherished her grandparents. As a child, she spent considerable time with her maternal grandparents, Grace and Harry Fiser. Grace and her younger brother came to Marengo, Iowa from Brooklyn, New York on the Orphan Train when she was eight years old. She was adopted by a childless Scottish couple who gave her a loving, happy home on their farm. Because Grandma didn’t want to leave her younger brother, he was adopted by their relative. Grandma Fiser’s faith and her kind spirit left a lasting impression on Karen.

Karen loved her family very much and enjoyed family time and holidays with them. It filled her heart with joy celebrating birthdays and other milestones together.

Karen and her family are very grateful to her entire medical staff at Lucas County Health Center, her oncologist at Mission Cancer, and her Every Step Hospice team for their thorough and wonderful care. As odd as it sounds, Karen often said that cancer was a blessing in numerous ways: the extended time she was given, the loving care she received all along her cancer journey from her pastor and church family, the many people who shared their stories and prayers with her, and the strangers she met who prayed with her. She felt like she saw “the face of Jesus” everywhere she went.

Karen is survived by her loving husband of 58 years (in December), Delbert Kray; her children James Kray, Angela (Keith) Dachenbach, Lisa Shoeman (Rick Laughlin), and Kristin (Rick) Wells; grandchildren Ryan Dachenbach, Rachel Cohen, Allyse (Andre) Fristo, Grant (Bailee) Shoeman, Carson and Annika Wells; great-grandchildren Hadley and Beckett Dachenbach; her sister Linda (Mike) Carmen and her sister-in-law, Karen Schuldt, plus cousins, nephews, nieces, and their families, and several special people who were a constant support during her illness.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents and her two brothers Herbert John Schuldt and Lee Allen Schuldt, her grandparents, and her infant nephew, Kevin Schuldt, plus several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at First Lutheran Church in Chariton at 11 am on May 30, 2026 with Pastor Richard Hutton officiating. Visitation will precede the service from 9:30 - 11 at the church. Per Karen’s wishes, she was cremated and interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to First Lutheran Church in Chariton, Iowa, or Every Step Hospice.

Published in The Gazette on May 27, 2026