Laurence Karnes

Laurence E. Karnes, age 92, of St. Paul formerly of Grey Eagle, died peacefully on Friday, January 11, 2013 at his home in St. Paul, Minnesota.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 15 at the Grey Eagle United Methodist Church in Grey Eagle, Minnesota. Burial will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Grey Eagle.

Visitation will be from 11 to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church in Grey Eagle.

Laurence Eugene Karnes was born July 9, 1920 in Grey Eagle, Minnesota to John and Erma (Fuller) Karnes. He was united in marriage to Marie Eva Rosty on January 5, 1942 in South Dakota. They were happily married for over 71 years. He was employed as a turbine balancer for the Electric Machinery Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prior to that, Laurence lived most of his life farming near Grey Eagle and considered Grey Eagle his home. Laurence was a passionate man, loved his family most of all, and in his spare time he enjoyed gardening, building things, hunting and fishing. He was a hard worker, loving and caring father and husband and extremely loving and proud of his three sons and one daughter.

Laurence was a member of the Grey Eagle United Methodist Church in Grey Eagle.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Eva Karnes of St. Paul; children, Gary (Linda) Karnes of McGregor, Loren Karnes (Janet Grimm) of Le Sueur, Dale (Laurie) Karnes of Oakdale, Lois (Rod) Forsberg of Hammond, WI; grandchildren, Steven Karnes, Tammy Schwietz, Travis Karnes, Erin Karnes, Jesse Karnes, Heather Sperl, Kristian Karnes, Kassee Karnes and Elizabeth Tibbetts; great-grandchildren, Katie, Tim, McKenna and Avianna; brothers and sisters, Harriet Walburn of Grey Eagle, James (Darlene) Karnes of St. Joseph, Ella Mae (Al) Bartz of Waite Park and Hoyt (Joyce) Karnes of Swanville.

Laurence was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Jacob Sperl; brothers, Calvin, Clayton and Ivan Karnes; sister, Jeanette Krey; and brother-in-law, Jack Walburn.

Serving as casket bearers will be Travis Karnes, Jesse Karnes, Kristian Karnes, Erin Karnes, Steven Karnes and Heather Sperl.