Funeral services for Clara Karpenski, 73, were Friday, November 6, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Amery, with the Very Rev. John Drummy and Deacon Bud Heiser officiating. Music was provided by the St. Joseph Choir and Arlene Dado.
Casketbearers were Steven Evenson, Matt Evenson, Russell Evenson, Derek Evenson, Jim Peirson and Roland Rodrigues.
Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Amery, assisted with arrangements.
Clara Anna Karpenski was born July 4, 1936, in Deer Park, the daughter of Julius and Alma (Frank) Knoll. She spent most of her first year in a Madison hospital, and from one to three years of age she lived with a doctor and his family. When she was three she moved in with a family in Emerald and then came home and attended country school. She graduated from Clear Lake high school in 1956. After high school she went to work in St. Paul at St. Joseph Hospital.
She married Frank Karpenski on December 3, 1966, and two children were born. He was killed in a farm accident in 1986 and she stayed on the farm with her son until 1993 when she moved to Amery due to bad eye sight.
She lived at Golden Age Manor for two years until her death on November 2, 2009.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Frank; sisters, Lucille Knoll and Esther Evenson.
Survivors include her son, Keith (Andrea) Karpenski; daughter, Jean (Aaron) Potopinski; brother, Orville Knoll; sisters, Irene Knoll and Doris Rodrigues; one step-granddaughter; special friend, Jerry Langland.
(Amery Free Press - Tuesday, November 10, 2009)
