Karol Storjohann

Karol Kay Storjohann, 76, of Reinbeck, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2020, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, following a lengthy illness. Due to COVID-19, to protect the health and safety of all, services are currently being limited as required by state and local authorities and the CDC. Check the funeral home website for the latest COVID-19 update. A private family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at the Reinbeck Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for Karol will be held at a later date and information on those details will be announced, when services are set. Memorials may be directed to the family. We encourage those who can’t be in attendance to leave a message of condolence or share a memory on our website by visiting www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Karol was born on September 26, 1943, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Donald C. & Lola (Frier) Petersen. A lifelong resident of Reinbeck, (up until 2 years ago) Karol attended school in Reinbeck, graduating with the class of 1961 with her brother John. After high school, Karol attended Gates Business College in Waterloo, where she earned a technical degree in bookkeeping. After graduation from college, Karol started her first bookkeeping job for a plumbing company in Grundy Center. She then met Dale Storjohann and the two were united in marriage at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Reinbeck. The couple were blessed with a son, Steve. While Steve was young, Karol stayed home and cared for him and their home. When Steve was school aged, Karol went back to work and worked at Cone ‘N Bun Restaurant and later the Highway Café, both in Reinbeck. In 1981, Karol went back to work as a bookkeeper and secretary for Lon’s Plumbing and Heating in Reinbeck, retiring after 30 years.

She was a member of the Union Congregational United Church of Christ, where she served in many capacities; she was a member of the Happy Hour Club, served as a Deacon and helped in any which way she could. Karol was also a member of the Reinbeck Firettes. In her spare time, Karol loved to bake and was famous for her bread and cookies! She was also an avid reader. Karol and her family loved to vacation in Ontario where they would spend time fishing and playing cards. Dale and Karol loved going to the fire convention every year with their friends from the Reinbeck Fire Department. Over the past two years, Karol relocated to Cedar Rapids where she lived with her son and daughter-in-law and was later a resident at Higley Mansion, also in Cedar Rapids. She enjoyed that time spent with her family, her in-laws Dan and Susan and her great-grandchildren. Karol will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Karol is survived by her son Steve (Samantha) Storjohann of Cedar Rapids; siblings John (Carol) Petersen, Mike (Carol) Petersen, both of Reinbeck and Pat Blakemore of Chicago, IA; sister-in-law Sally Finke and brother-in-law Harold Storjohann; many nieces and nephews. She rejoins in Heaven her parents; beloved husband Dale; brothers-in-law Mike Blakemore, Darwin Finke & Al Giesking and sisters-in-law Margaret Storjohann & Diane Giesking.