Karlene Geffre

Karlene Ruth Geffre, age 56, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, August 5, 2021, surrounded by her loving family at her mother’s home.  Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown.  Father John Fischer will be the celebrant.  Music will be provided by Kathy Steinoff as pianist with Annette Leberman, Kari Anderson and Missy Anderson as vocalists. 

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m., with a scripture wake service at 7:00 p.m. led by Father John Lantsberger.

Burial will be at St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Grover, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Lisa Johnson, Kaylene Gonnelly, Karla Mehlhaff, Kaylea Ostrander, Kathy Peck, Mary Redlin and Vonda VanWell Shaeffer. Active pallbearers will be Andrew Leber, Chuck Oleson, Tony Oleson, Roger Oleson, Jeff Coplan and Clint Coplan.

Karlene was born on May 19, 1965, in Watertown, SD, to Gene and Ruth (Cordell) Coplan.  While growing up, she was a member of 4-H and St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Grover, SD.

She was a 1983 graduate of Watertown High School. Her favorite job was at Spies’ Super Value where she worked in the deli. Later, she received a degree in Medical Assisting from VOTECH (LATC) in Watertown.  Karlene moved to Aberdeen, SD, for on the job training and attended Presentation College, where she earned an Associate Degree in Nursing, and later became an RN. She worked at various healthcare associations in both Watertown and Aberdeen and was a caring nurse for nearly 30 years.

On May 8, 1999, Karlene married Gailen Geffre at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Aberdeen.  The couple moved to Watertown in 2012, where Karlene was employed as an RN at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System.  She was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Karlene is survived by her husband, Gailen Geffre of Watertown; one son, Nicholas Geffre  and one daughter, Allison Geffre, both of Watertown; her mother, Ruth Coplan of Henry; one brother, Chris (Carla) Coplan of Hazel, SD; two sisters, Stephanie (Dan) Crocker of Watertown, and Becky (Wayne) Yeager of Brandon, SD; nieces and nephew, Tara, Clint, and Marlee Coplan; and several aunts and uncles.

Karlene was preceded in death by her father, Gene Coplan; her grandparents, Frank and Helen Coplan, and Paul and Rose Cordell; father and mother-in-law, Francis and Mathilda Geffre; and one sister-in-law, Janet Geffre.

Karlene was diagnosed with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma also known as bile duct cancer of the liver in November of 2019.  The cancer became uncontrollable and she was placed on hospice care June 30, 2021.  She remained on hospice until her death.  She passed away from cancer,  Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to the college funds of her children, Nicholas and Allison Geffre.

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