Ralph Karns

Ralph Elton Karns, 81, died Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 3, 2008 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St. with burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8pm Sunday at the funeral home.
Ralph was born March 22, 1927 to Mildred and Charles Karns in Lorimor, IA. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict. Ralph worked at Armstrong Tire and Rubber as a tire builder. He also worked as a security guard at the Iowa State Fair. Ralph was a member of the United Rubber Workers Union Local 164 and the East Euclid Hy Vee Coffee Club.
Ralph and Patricia volunteered by delivering bakery goods to the Four Mile Community Center. Ralph liked to coon hunt and fish. He enjoyed gardening as well as going to Prairie Meadows.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Patricia, his children, Richard of Carlisle, Charles, Russell, Terry, Scott all of Des Moines and Linda (Neil) Frizzell of Slayton, MN.; his 7 grandchildren and 1 great grandson; his brothers, Willie (Evelyn) of Des Moines, Raymond (Eleanor) of Fairbanks, Alaska, Donald (Betty) of Mingo, and Ronald (Elaine) of Des Moines; sister Phyllis (Boyd) Kale of Des Moines; his mother-in-law, Lorene Madden. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael, his parents and his 2 sisters. Memorial Contributions are suggested to either the Iowa Kidney Foundation or the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.

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