Karen Goble (Ifediba)

1949 – 2024

Karen Goble (Ifediba), 74, a resident of Springville, UT, died peacefully on February 9th in the arms of her daughters after a brief illness.

Karen was born on August 16, 1949 in Provo, UT, the oldest child of Thelma Anderson and Keith Roy Goble. In her early years she lived in many small communities in central and southern Utah where her father worked as a carpenter. The Goble family settled permanently in Mapleton, UT, and ultimately welcomed three more children, sons Randy, Wayne, and Brent. Karen was very protective of her brothers, and according to family lore, local neighborhood bullies were afraid of her, nicknaming her “Hard as Nails”.

Karen graduated in 1967 from Springville High School where she was an honors student, senior class scholar and an active member of the Pep and Physers clubs. Karen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Brigham Young University and taught middle and junior high school math for several years in Vernal and Payson, UT. Karen was a gifted teacher who touched the lives of many students by being firm, fair, and consistent. She later returned to school to pursue a master’s degree in accounting. She began working as a certified public accountant for Arthur Andersen and Company in Manhattan, NY, in the late 1970s. There she met her future husband, Titus Ifediba, whom she married on February 1, 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple. Karen and Titus had 2 daughters, Marytheresa and Yvette. The family eventually relocated to Utah, where Karen managed the family construction company, K. R. Goble Construction, alongside her father and three brothers. She never retired and was still actively working at the company with her two surviving brothers, Wayne and Brent, at the time of her passing.

Karen was widowed young and was a towering example of strength, fortitude, and resilience to her daughters, who she raised as a devoted single mother. She was a good person and a woman of action who worked hard to help her loved ones succeed in life. She was dutiful and tireless, and when not at work could be observed irrigating her large property, caring for lawns, flowers, and fruit trees, planting gardens, and serving in her community. She loved a good steak, classic TV Westerns, violent action movies, rock and roll, window shopping and a good book. Karen was fearless, with an unshakeable self-confidence that made her intimidating to most, but a godsend to underdogs, who felt safe in her presence.

Karen’s happiest times were spent with her children and grandchildren. Her death has come as a terrible shock and is sorely felt by her family who loved her deeply. She is irreplaceable. Karen had a strong belief in God, and her well-lived life is a testament to that belief.

Karen is survived by her children Marytheresa Ifediba of Springville and Yvette (Michael) Soelberg of Spanish Fork, grandchildren Luca, Gemma, Lorenzo and Domenico Soelberg of Spanish Fork, brothers Wayne (Susan) Goble of Spanish Fork and Brent (Sherry) Goble of Lyman, WY. She was preceded in death by her husband, Titus Ifediba, parents Keith and Thelma Goble, and brother Randy Goble.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 16, at 11:00 am at the Kolob 2nd ward chapel located at 840 S 400 E in Springville. Friends and family may attend a viewing on Thursday, February 15, from 6-8 pm at Wheeler Mortuary (211 East 200 South, Springville) and on Friday, February 16, from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the service. Interment will be at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.

To leave condolences for the family, please visit www.wheelermortuary.com.