Karen L. Courtney

Karen L. Courtney, 69, of Grand Island died Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 2 pm on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Northridge Assembly of God with Rev. Mark Oberbeck officiating. Burial will be at Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday evening from 4 to 8 pm at Apfel Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the family to designate at a later time. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family. Karen was born on January 8, 1943 in Lovilia, Iowa, the daughter of Everett and Madge (Wilson) Sterling. She grew up in Ottumwa, Iowa, graduating from Ottumwa High School in 1960. Karen was united in marriage to Jim Courtney on October 1, 1960 in Lancaster, Missouri. The couple lived in California before moving to Iowa in 1963. They moved to Grand Island in March of 1978. Karen worked at Principal Financial Group from 1983 until her health forced her to stop in 1998. Karen was a member of Northridge Assembly of God. Her main hobby through life was children. She was very influential and touched the lives of many children. She loved to quilt, do needlework, read, send cards and people in general. She is survived by her husband Jim Courtney of Grand Island, three children; Nancy Lorsung of Grand Island, Anne and Mike Stalker of Lincoln, and James and Gina Courtney of Gothenburg, six grandchildren; Michelle Stalker, Kristina Lorsung, Jeff Stalker, Montannia Courtney, Cheyann Courtney and Dana Horky, one sister; Marilyn VandenBerg of Albia, IA, two brothers; Richard and Lily Sterling and Jack and Bev Sterling, all of Knoxville, IA, a sister in law; LuAnne Haack of Newton, IA, and a foster brother; Larry Glassburn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Everette and Madge Sterling, one brother Glenn Sterling, a brother in law Gerald VandenBerg and one grandson, Christopher Lorsung.