Karen L. Chapman

Karen L. Chapman, 73, Denver, IA, died May 18, 2015 at her home after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Services were held May 23, 2015 at Dugger Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane South in Belmond with Pastor Cindy Morrison officiating. Burial was in the Belmond Cemetery.

Karen Lucile was born to Grant and Lucile Chapman on July 19, 1941 in Belmond. She graduated from Belmond High School as salutatorian in 1958. Later that year she married James Stadtlander. They lived in Ames and Shenandoah for about three years before moving to Palatine, IL. There she devoted her life to raising their two children and developing lifelong friendships. In 1982 Karen and Jim moved to Anaheim, CA where they eventually parted ways.

Karen earned her law degree at Southern California College of Law in 1989. She practiced law in the Orange County Sheriff’s prosecutor’s office from 1989 to 1992. Then she moved back to Belmond to assist her parents. She also renewed her relationship with Richard Hansen. Karen and Richard became soul mates, moved to the Waterloo area, and made their permanent home in Denver. Karen loved tending to her new home, which she often referred to as their tree house in the woods.

Karen taught law at Kaplan College in Cedar Falls from 1993 to 1995. She enjoyed playing tennis, biking, gardening and arranging social events. Karen enjoyed collecting many valuable antiques throughout her lifetime.

She was preceded in death by her parents Grant Chapman, 86, Lucile Chapman, 91, and her daughter Susan Kazarian, 41.

Survivors include her son Stephen Stadtlander, 56, of Trabuco Canyon, CA, his wife Pamela, 54, and their children Jesseca, 24, Thomas, 23, and Sarah, 21; and Susan’s children Austin, 23, Blake, 17, Joshua, 15, and Kamille, 12 of Anaheim; and Richard Hansen of Denver.