Karen De Lila Brunker Peery

Karen DeLila Brunker Peery, 75, passed away on March 22, 2023, after a short battle with Ovarian Cancer. She was surrounded by her family and died peacefully in her home.

Karen was born in Ogden, Utah to Max A. Brunker and Betty DeLila Baker on May 15, 1947. She was raised in a tight-knit and loving home with her two younger siblings, Laurie (Brad) Williams and Roger (Julie) Brunker. She graduated from Ogden High School in 1965 and attended Weber State College for a year.

In 1968, Karen met her husband of 53 years, Elden Kirk Peery, at a church dance on Thanksgiving night. They married May 3, 1969 and were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Jordan River Temple. Their union was blessed with three children, Kristen (Jason) Casto, Kase (Shannon) Peery and Karalee (Anthony) Nelson, and grew to include ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Karen started her career and worked for many years in the hustle and bustle of radio. Seeking a better environment, she changed her career and worked as the executive secretary to the President of Deseret Book. She retired after 15 years to spend more time with her parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren.

Karen was an active volunteer throughout her community. She worked for many years as a voter registration volunteer. She served on multiple committees for the Jordan Education Foundation. She taught Diabetes classes. She even helped form a group called the ‘Queens of Clean” that taught cleaning and organizational classes throughout the community.

Karen was known for her stylish and spunky appearance, witty and clever rhymes, marvelous family traditions, being a friend to all, and last, but certainly not least, her organizational and cleaning skills. Her favorite items were her feather duster, bottle of Thoro, label machine, and her trusty Sharpies. She was a bit of an overachiever when it came to labeling and cataloging literally everything.

Karen was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a deep love for her Savior. She held various callings in Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary. She particularly loved working with the young women. Her final, and cherished calling, was serving as Primary Chorister. One of her last requests in her final weeks was to have the primary children come and sing to her one last time. She and her husband also had the opportunity to serve three Senior Couple Missions, as well as being ordinance workers in the Jordan River and Oquirrh Mountain temples.

Karen manifested Christlike love in her everyday interactions. She had a remarkable gift for making everyone around her feel loved, cherished, and accepted. When you were in Karen’s presence she made you feel that you were the most important person in the world.

Karen was deeply committed to her family. She said it perfectly herself, “I want my children and grandchildren to know that family is EVERYTHING!! If you are going to invest your time in anything, invest it in FAMILY! Everything else eventually turns to dust. But FAMILY IS FOREVER!”

Karen is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, three children, two siblings, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 10:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel building located at 7079 West Rose Canyon Road, Herriman, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the service beginning at from 9:00 am.

Funeral services will be streamed via Zoom for those wishing to attend virtually. To watch the previously held funeral services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.