Roy Raymond Karner

Roy Raymond Karner went home to eternally praise Jesus, our Savior, at the age of 91 on December 11, 2019. Roy and Elizabeth “Betty” (Werschler) Karner, the love of his life, moved to the country and spent their last months together under their daughters’ care. Roy died peacefully, surrounded and held by his four daughters. We reminded him often that although his memory wasn’t working so well anymore, his heart loved as deeply as ever. Roy had deep faith in and love for his Savior Jesus and we are comforted by the knowledge that he is now abiding with Christ. Dad would not want us to go on and on talking about his life. Instead, he’d want to be sharing the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus. However, these are a few words about him from his family. The best way we know to sum up our dad’s life passion is to say that he loved God and he loved people. And we loved him dearly. Roy was born on March 3, 1928, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. He was the third of five sons born to Frank and Esther (Schultz) Karner. Roy attended Saint John’s Preparatory School in Winfield, Kansas, served in the National Guard, and then attended Concordia Theological Seminary in Saint Louis, Missouri. He met Betty in Canada during a vicarage in northern Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba. They were married and began a lifetime of loving devotion in June, 1954. Dad used to say they were like Canada Geese; they mated for life. In September, 1954, they answered God’s call into the mission field and served His people in Hong Kong for fifteen years. In 1969, Roy and Betty moved to Hopkins, Minnesota, where he served first as an associate pastor then as senior pastor at Zion Lutheran Church until his retirement in 1993. He continued to provide wise leadership during vacancies and to tenderly minister to people as a visitation pastor in several congregations around the Minneapolis area until well into his 80’s. Roy is survived by his beloved wife Betty, brother Harold Karner, sister-in-law Elisabeth Karner, daughters Kim (Henry) Haverstock, Kathi Jensen, Keri (Dan) Siekert, Lori (David) Chvojicek; Grandchildren Father Paul Haverstock, Anne (Michael) Roeber, Kent Haverstock, Brittany (JP) LaChapelle, Brooke Jensen, Kaitlyn Siekert, Megan Siekert, Michael Chvojicek, Ryan Chvojicek; and great grandchildren Evline LaChapelle, Sophie LaChapelle, Madeline LaChapelle, Benjamin Roeber and Hannah Roeber. Roy was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Alfred, Walter, and Franklin. A memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church in Hopkins, Minnesota, on Tuesday, December 17th, 2019, at 11:00. Visitation will begin at 10:00. A luncheon will follow the service. Memorials should be designated for the Zion Lutheran Church Missions Fund.

Tributes

Roy Raymond Karner

March 3, 1928 - December 11, 2019

Tributes

Roy Raymond Karner

March 3, 1928 - December 11, 2019

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