Sherill Lynn Karns

Sherill Lynn (Cooper) Karns, age 92 of Anita, IA, died on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at Exira Care Center in Exira, IA. She was born on January 2, 1933, just north of Anita, Iowa, to Hallie and Harold Cooper. Not long after, the family moved to a farm in Audubon County, where Sherill spent her childhood surrounded by the quiet beauty of the countryside. In those early years, she rode a horse to her first country schoolhouse, a vivid image that speaks to her strength, independence, and the era she grew up in.

Sherill graduated from Adair High School and began her working life as a telephone operator at the Anita phone company. It was in 1951, following his return from Korea, that she met Albert Junior Karns. The two were married on June 13, 1952, at the Methodist Church in Anita—a union that would span decades and create a loving family. Together, Sherill and Junior raised two children, Cindy and Chris Karns, both of Anita. As a family, they enjoyed camping and spending time together, and Sherill embraced her role as a homemaker with warmth and dedication. She was a wonderful cook whose kitchen was always full of comforting aromas and heartfelt hospitality.

Later in life, Sherill worked for over 20 years as a cook at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Anita. But she didn’t stop there - she took it upon herself to mend residents’ clothes in her own time and often baked treats she knew they would enjoy. Her kindness extended far beyond her job description. Sherill was also a talented seamstress who offered mending and alterations for the community for little pay, simply because she loved to help and be needed.

Family was always at the heart of Sherill’s life. She babysat countless grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, not just watching over them but nurturing them with deep love and care. To them, she was so much more than a grandmother - she was a second mother, a steady hand, a warm hug, and a source of unconditional love. Sherill lived a life defined by quiet generosity, strength of character, and deep devotion to her family and community. She touched many lives with her kindness and will be dearly missed by all who had the joy of knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Albert Karns, a brother, Clark Cooper and a sister, Connie Jensen.

Sherill is surivied by her son, Chris (Kristine) Karns and her daughter, Cindy (Terry Oathoudt) Karns all of Anita; brothers, Tom Cooper of Audubon and Keith Cooper of Atlantic; Six grandchildren, Eleven great grandchildren and Nine great great grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM, Monday, June 23, 2025, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Anita, Iowa. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. Visitation with the family present will be from 10 AM till 11 AM at the funeral home. A luncheon will also be held at the funeral home following the graveside services at Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials in her name to the Anita Fire Department and can be left of mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home at PO Box 523 - Atlantic, IA

The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita is caring for the Karns family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com