Karen K. Thomas, age 80, of Canby, MN, passed away Friday, October 4, 2024 at the Sanford Canby Medical Center. Funeral service will be 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Canby, MN with Rev. Levi Bollerud officiating. Burial will be in the St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Canby, MN. Visitation will be 5 – 7 pm with a 7 pm Prayer Service on Tuesday, October 8th at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby and will resume Wednesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby is entrusted with the arrangements.
She was born in Slayton, MN to Ted and Gertie Bruns, and graduated from Slayton High School in 1962. She met and married Duane Thomas June 20, 1964, and together they had 4 children, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She worked for years in the school cafeteria in Sutherland, Iowa, the Canby Elementary School, as well as at St. Peters Catholic School. Later in life she worked serving meals at the Senior Center where she enjoyed keeping up with the local happenings in Canby! She enjoyed sewing and embroidery, teaching her granddaughters when they were children, growing flowers, and canning and freezing the products of she and Duane’s garden. In her later years she was always available for a long phone chat with any of her family or friends, and loved to take care of her cat, Baby, and dog, Charlie.
Karen is survived by her 4 children: Brian (Kristie) Thomas of Gary, SD, Bruce Thomas of Canby, MN, Brad Thomas, of White, SD, and Brenda (Daniel) Menk of Atkins, AR; 12 grandchildren: Joshua Werkheiser, Ryan (Destiny) Thomas, Chantel (Joe) Mann, Ashley (Jake) Popovich, Rachael (Ross) Stangeland, Logan (Kaylee) Menk, Blaine Thomas, Dominic (Jada) Thomas, Brady Thomas, Brody Thomas, Jennifer (Joe) Faucher, Allsion Menk, Tanisha (Kris) Selbrade, and Taneka (Joe) Olsen and 10 great-grandchildren; as well as her brothers: Leroy (Lois) Bruns, and Allen (Margaret) Bruns, and sister-in-law, Gloria Bruns. She was preceded in death by her husband Duane Thomas, parents Ted and Gertie Bruns, brother Jerry Bruns, and grandson Blake Thomas.
