It is with great sadness that her loving family shares that Karolyn Cecilia (Kalb) Elliott died unexpectedly on October 30, 2024, at home.

Friends may call from 3-8pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, IA, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30pm and the Epworth Fire Department will meet in a body at 6:30pm.  Friends may also call after 9am on Wednesday at the funeral home.  A funeral Mass will be held at St Patrick Catholic Church, Epworth at 10:30am on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, with Fr Michael Schueller officiating, assisted by her son, Deacon Nick Elliott.  Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Farley, IA.

Karol was born on November 6, 1947, to Leonard and Marie Kalb. She graduated from Western Dubuque High School in 1966 and Mercy Nursing School in 1969. Throughout her 46 year nursing career at Mercy Medical Center in Pediatrics, Karol always put others first. She shared great care and compassion for all her little patients and their parents. She was also a wonderful mentor to all nurses – a walking pediatrics textbook. She had so many fond memories of her nursing friends and patients. Never one for fanfare, she quietly retired from the place she started in June of 2015.

Karol married Max Elliott on September 11, 1976, at St Patrick's Catholic Church in Epworth. They had two children whom she was so proud of, never missing a chance to share what they were up to. Karol became "D" to her beloved grandchildren. She was always up for a "just because" trip to Dairy Queen when they asked. Her love and pride for her family was unmatched.

The breadth and length and height and depth of Karol's love was the epitome of truly living out Christ's greatest commandments, to love God with all your heart and love thy neighbor. She was a devout Catholic as a member of St Patrick Catholic Church, Epworth and performed the Stations of the Cross with a group from St Patrick's.  Her faith sustained her through tragedies at work and home, and she was always willing to share that faith and love with everyone whom she encountered. One of the ways she sustained her faith was praying the rosary, it gave her strength to keep pushing.  Her resilience was unwavering, never stopping until the task was done and always putting herself last.  Her fellow nurses and clinicians relied on her for those tough veins because they knew her skill at IV placement and was called on many times.  She was always willing to lend a helping hand, carrying out her vocations and valiantly living out a life of service to others.

Karol is survived by her husband, Max, children, Deacon Nick (Nettie) Elliott and Sara (Jeff McMillen) Elliott and two grandchildren Dawson and Payton Elliott. She is also survived by her siblings Ken Kalb, Frank Kalb, Steve (Donna) Kalb, Cindy Gansen, and in-laws Kathy Kalb, Arlene Elliott, David (Jeanette Frederick) Elliott, Diane Elliott, Annie Elliott, Fred Pierce, and Mike Hannan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two unborn children, brother Loras Kalb, and sister Mary Hannan. In-laws Kenneth & Lucille Elliott and Millie Betts, brothers-in-law Kenneth (Audrey) Elliott, Sr, Richard Elliott, Sr, Lyle Elliott, Lois Smith, Phillip Elliott, Jeneen Pierce, Jeanette Elliott, nephew Robert Elliott, nephew Leslie Ganfield, nephew and Godson DJ Elliott, niece Theresa Sawvell, niece Tracie Elliott, great nephew Jeremy Fischer, and great niece Jennifer Elliott.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to Mercy Pediatrics, Dubuque in Karol's memory – leaving a continuing legacy of her love and devotion to nursing and caring for children.