Karen Jo (Barr) Slife of Manchester

Karen Jo (Barr) Slife, 84, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester, Iowa, on February 4, 2026 after a courageous fight with Alzheimer’s disease. Karen was born on May 20, 1941, in Mason City, Iowa, to Raymond Barr and Pearl (Jensen) Barr. She continued her education at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, graduating with a registered nurse certificate in 1962.

She was united in marriage to Clarence Slife on July 9, 1976 and raised their family in Mason City, Iowa. Karen graduated from the University of Dubuque graduating with a BSN. She was the Director of Nursing at Mercy Hospital in Mason City and later CEO of Mercy Home Health Care Agency until her retirement in 2005. After retirement, she volunteered as the CEO of the Cerro Gordo County Iowa Free Health Clinic and served as a nursing instructor at Kaplan University.

Karen volunteered as a trustee board member of the First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, vacation bible school, and worked in the church kitchen. She served as assistant publisher for the Iowa Nurses Association monthly newsletter. She enjoyed time with her family, camping and fishing at the Boundary Waters and volunteering at the local humane society.

In 2016 the couple re-located to Manchester, Iowa, Clarence’s former hometown. A special thanks to all the very dedicated staff and care givers at the Good Neighbor Home, where Karen spent her last years of life.

She is survived by her husband, Clarence Slife of Manchester; daughter, Liesa (Lance) Greco of Cedar Rapids; sons, Tim (Lisa) Naylon of Omaha, Nebraska and Bret Slife of Manchester; sister, Kandis (John Mahorney) Jensen of Texas; brother, Jeff (Janet) Barr of South Dakota; and six grandchildren, Callista Greco, Gabriel Greco, Asa Greco, Colby Naylon, Reese Naylon, and Henry Naylon.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Pearl (Jensen) Barr; and in-laws, Walter and Charmion (Hillier) Slife.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Good Neighbor Society Marietta’s Place and/or the Manchester Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to www.leonard-mullerfh.com.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Manchester Methodist Church, Manchester, Iowa

Visitation: 9:00-11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Manchester Methodist Church, Manchester, Iowa

Inurnment: At a later date, Oakland Cemetery, Manchester, Iowa