1944-2026
Karen (McCool) Anfinson, 81, of Guthrie Center, passed away suddenly on May 7, 2026. She was born Nov. 20, 1944, in Guthrie Center, to John Clark (J.C.) and Ruth McCool.
Karen grew up in Guthrie Center. She attended school there and graduated in 1957. The highlight of her senior year was that her girls basketball team won the Iowa state tournament. Karen was known for her famous hook shot and still holds some scoring records. She was eventually inducted into the Iowa High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame.
On Dec. 4, 1966, Karen married Rudolf Johnson. This marriage ended in divorce in the spring of 1984. On June 1, 1984, she married Robert Anfinson. They spent most of their married life in Missouri, where they first owned and operated a Dairy Queen and eventually managed a series of motels.
After Robert’s death in 2008, Karen remained in Springfield, Missouri, until 2024, when she moved to Minnesota to be closer to her brother, Robert.
Karen is survived by her brother, Robert, and his wife, Susan, who live in Circle Pines, Minnesota. Karen’s niece, Kristin Walls, and family live in Columbia, Missouri, and her nephew, Dan McCool, and family live in Overland Park, Kansas. Karen’s three step-nieces and step-nephews and their families live in Minnesota, California and Wisconsin.