Karla Caltirder, 87, of Casey, Iowa, died Friday, December 5, 2025, at Heritage House in Atlantic.
Karla Jane was born on May 7, 1938, at the Larson Hospital in Adair, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond Michael William and Lucille Marie (Hammond) Wesack. She grew up with her sister, Pat and they shared a very close bond as kids and into adulthood. On June 21, 1938, she received the sacrament of baptism and on May 29, 1953, was confirmed, both at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair. She grew up on a farm south of Adair, Iowa and attended Adair Community Schools. In school she was active in music, band and the school plays; she graduated in the Adair High School Class of 1956. Following graduation, she attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO, and received her teaching certificate.
Can you believe that a night out with a group of friends at an Adair area dance resulted in them all finding their perfect match? Karla met the love of her life, R. Keith Caltrider and the couple married on September 6, 1959, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Adair. The couple was blessed with two children, Jennifer and Kevin. They made their home on the Caltrider Family Farm, now a Century farm, northwest of Casey for 57 years. As a family they looked forward to getting away to Leech Lake, Okoboji and vacations with the Rumple and the Dolan families.
After her kids started school, she operated Lollipop Preschool at the Casey United Methodist Church. Karla always stressed the importance of proper etiquette and education and dedicated over 35 years to getting the young ones off to the right start. A former student, who is now in education, recently shared the impact Karla made on her and she uses some of the same style of teaching to connect with the students in her classroom. During retirement she also worked at Tiger Tikes Preschool in Guthrie Center and Von Maur.
Karla was a long-time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey and was active in LWML and sang in the choir. She was also a member of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, Casey Community Club, and Zetetic Club. She was a driving force and was compassionate about the restoration of the Casey Library. Karla and Keith played numerous roles at the Guthrie Center Community Theatre, including ones in Hello Dolly and were members of the 5×80 Country Club.
Karla loved spending time outdoors at the farm tending her flower and vegetable gardens that always seemed to flourish with her green thumb. A gift that even had people bring her their dying plants to revive. Time inside was spent making crafts, painting and rolling out dough for her prized Apple Pie that was required at any family or town function. Did you know that Karla had a competitive side? Whether it was cards with friends or playing Murder with family you could bet by the end she had called at least one person a cob! She loved Christmas time and had a large Santa collection. Karla was an avid Iowa State Cyclone and Iowa Hawkeye fan. Who did she root for when they played each other?
Time with her grandchildren was always filled with adventure. Their memories include playing in her classroom when she was prepping lessons, baking gingerbread every Christmas, reading with her, helping her with her arts, crafts and plants and eavesdropping on the adults after bedtime through the grate in the floor of the front bedroom. The joy they brought to her days was evident in her smile when they were around.
Karla’s loving and kind spirit and unwavering focus on her faith, family and friends will always be treasured by her children, Jennifer (Mick) Allen of Atlantic and Kevin (Michelle) Caltrider of Carroll; grandchildren, Alissa (James) Puffett, Benjamin (Kelsey) Caltrider, Trevor (Ry) Caltrider, and Paige (William) Badding; great-grandchildren, Xayne Howard and Hadley and Kennedy Caltrider; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Lucille Hammond; husband, Keith Caltrider; parents-in-law, Charles and Irene Caltrider; grandson, James Howard; great-granddaughter, Ayreiz Howard; sister, Patricia Unrein; brother-in-law, Ray (Eva) Caltrider; sister-in-law; and Betty (Don) Slayton.
Visitation with the family present will begin at 12:30 p.m., Monday, December 8th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Casey, followed by the funeral service at 1:30 p.m. A slideshow and recording of the service will be available on the funeral home website by end of day Tuesday.
A private family burial will be held in the Dalmanutha Cemetery, northwest of Casey.
Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to the Casey Library Betterment, Casey Service Club Grant Committee, Casey Historical Society and Country Grove at Heritage House.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Karla’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
