Fallen soldier has ties to region

Friday, September 28, 2007

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The wife of an American soldier who died Tuesday of injuries he suffered Aug. 17 in Iraq attended Republican Valley High School between Indianola and McCook.

Karen Wellman Pfeifer, who married Pfc. Christopher Pfeifer of Spalding on March 22, 2006, gave birth in San Antonio, Texas, Thursday morning, to the couple's first child, a daughter, Peyton Sharon Pfeifer, who weighed 81?2 pounds.

Karen's mother, Gail Godfrey of Indianola, said this morning that Karen, who is 21 years old, and the baby are doing well, as Karen recovers from a C-section. Karen and Christopher's family are in San Antonio, where Christopher was hospitalized after he was injured when insurgents attacked his unit near Kamu, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Gail said Christopher's family disconnected life support equipment Tuesday morning. Christopher was 22 years old.

Gail said that Karen and Christopher met when they were in the Job Corps in Chadron. Jim Kleffner, a friend of Christopher's family, told an Associated Press reporter that Christopher and his father, Mike Pfeifer, had worked in Kleffner's shop, People's Service. Kleffner said of Christopher, "He needed direction, and when he met Karen, he found the love of his life."

Pfeifer is survived by his parents, Mike and Dar Pfeifer, and an older brother and older sister.

Flags are flying at half staff in Spalding.

Gail Godfrey said Karen and Christopher's family are making arrangements for Christopher's funeral services, probably early next week.

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