Karen Lee Costello

Karen Lee Costello, 62, of Waterloo, died at Cedar Valley Hospice Home on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, from cancer. She was born October 22, 1956 in Waterloo, daughter of Arthur and Ona Hinkel Buck, and graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1975.

Karen married Robert "Cos" Costello in Waterloo in 1985. She was a 911 emergency dispatcher for Black Hawk County Consolidated Public Safety retiring after 33 years in February 2019.

She was a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. She was a committee member for Harleys & Hot Rods and assisted in fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation for 25 years. Karen volunteered with the search effort for Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrisey including answering the tip line during vacation time.

She enjoyed going to the Mennonite community every spring to buy flowers for her yard. Karen also loved her "girls’ day" once a month for Bloody Mary’s including all their trips together to Kansas City and Omaha. When she wasn't working, Karen loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Karen is survived by her husband; son, Michael’ both of Waterloo; 5 grandchildren: Damon, Austin, Dakota, Kierra and Arianna; 4 brothers: Jerry (Monica) Buck’ Germany, Jack (Vicki) Buck’ Evansdale, John (Tammy) Buck’ Waterloo, and Jeff (Brenda) Buck’ Elk Run Heights; 2 sisters, Mary (Dan) Delagardelle’ La Porte City and Linda (Paul) Clement’ Colorado; an aunt, Betty (Buzz) Pries’ Waterloo; many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and her special girl friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents and 2 brothers, Joe and Jim Buck.