Carmen Marie (Gebers) Koth

Carmen M. Koth, age 68, of Holstein, passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Pastor Bob Lewis officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.  A visitation will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.

Carmen was born on January 10, 1955 to Ethel Dorthea Strackbein and Willard Willis Gebers in Cherokee, IA. Carmen was the middle child in the family with an older brother Gail and younger brother Gary. Carmen remained extremely close to both of her brothers through her entire life. The trio loved to get together, create new memories and tell stories about the past.

After Carmen graduated from Holstein High School  in 1973, she went on to earn a degree in education from Iowa State University. The majority of her years teaching were in the Galva-Holstein school district teaching English and Language Arts to middle school and high school students. She also made it her lifelong mission to teach everyone she encountered the Iowa State Fight Song.

Carmen met Casey Campbell in college, they were married and had two children, Caleb (Biff) and Laramie (Mimi).

In 1992, Carmen met Steve Koth after they each were nudged by several friends. Carmen and Steve were married on August 6,1994 and began their 29 years of adventures. Steve was the love of Carmen’s life and went along with any and all of her wild ideas, from waking in the middle of the night and driving out to the country to watch some astronomy event to putting together the winning float in the parade at the lake.

In 2016, Carmen retired and spent her time with friends and family… at the coffee shop, playing cards, in Okoboji, at concerts and sporting events for her grandgirls, vacations with friends, and any other escapades she could dream up.

Carmen was preceded in death by her mother Ethel Dorthea (Strackbein) Gebers and her father Willard Willis Gebers.

She is survived by her husband Steve Koth; children Caleb (Cynthia) Campbell, Laramie (Doug) Kelly-Meyer; “grandgirls” Haylie Zinkula, Harriet Hays, Erin Kelly, Grace Kelly and Daniella Meyer; brothers Gail (Mary) Gebers and Gary (Barb) Gebers; nephews Scott (Renae) Gebers, Chad (Shannon) Gebers, Tyler (Allyson) Gebers, Tanner (Brooke) Gebers, Harrison (Katlyn) Gebers, Alex (Jann) Murphy and Kyle (Jen) Murphy, many great nieces and nephews and every person she met with whom she became instant friends.