Marvin Karlen, age 81 of Stanley, WI passed away
peacefully on August 7, 2010 at St. Joseph’s
Hospital, Marshfield, WI. Marv was born March 4,
1929 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, the son of the
late Herman “Jack” & Lylia (Flora) Karlen where
his Dad was employed by Kraft Cheese Co.
When Marvin was one year old, he moved with his
parents to Bloomfield, Indiana. He attended his
first year of grade school there. His parents then
moved to Ridgeville, Indiana where he attended
second grade. His parents then moved to Sullivan,
Indiana attending third grade there and finally
moving to the Boyd area during his fourth grade
of school where he attended Liberty Hill
Elementary School which was a one room country
school. He graduated from the eighth grade in
1943, the same year at which he was confirmed at
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Boyd, WI. Marvin
continued his education at Augusta High School
for three years. His parents again moved to the
Thorp area where he graduated from Thorp High
School in 1948. Marv met his wife Catherine
Hegenbarth in 1947, marrying July 2, 1949 at Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greenwood, WI. They
lived at the Delmar Cheese Factory in Boyd,
where Marv received his cheese makers license in
1949. He then did field work for Chippewa County
Co-op and in 1963 began working for Pure Milk
Products who merged with AMPI. Marv also
worked as a part-time police officer for seven
years in the 1960’s. In 1993 Marv and Cathy
retired to their home in Eau Claire, WI and in 2005
moved to Stanley to be by their family where they
became active members of Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church. Marv and Cathy cherished the 61
wonderful years of marriage they celebrated in
2009.
Marv is survived by his wife Cathy of Stanley, WI,
children, Randy (Nancy) Karlen and Terry
(Debbie) Karlen both of Stanley, WI; and Pam
(Don) Gunderson of New Auburn, WI;
grandchildren, Stacy (Jim) Haas, Krista (Andy)
Schmitt, Tara (Chris) Kodl, Jennifer (Luke) Walz,
Corey Karlen, Stephanie (Brad) Gottbeheut, Mike
(Lisa) Karlen, JoShane Karlen, and eighteen
great-grandchildren, Dustin & Tyler Haas, Kaleb &
Myia Christianson, Iszabeth Schmitt, Jesse, Grace,
Levi, Lily, and Emily Walz, Desiree, Isabelle & Mike
Jr. Karlen, Monica & Landon Karlen, Cassidy &
Mallory Kodl and Ben Gottbeheut, one brother,
Jerry Lee (Kay) Karlen of South Wayne, WI, and 3
sister-in-laws, Minerva, Leona & Geraldine. He
was preceded in death by his parents and brother
Dorval Karlen.
Services will be held on Thursday, August 12,
2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church, Stanley, WI with Pastor Sarah Semmler-
Smith officiating. Friends and family may call from
4-8 P.M. on Wednesday evening at the Plombon
Funeral Chapel, Stanley, WI.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness…
peacefully on August 7, 2010 at St. Joseph’s
Hospital, Marshfield, WI. Marv was born March 4,
1929 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, the son of the
late Herman “Jack” & Lylia (Flora) Karlen where
his Dad was employed by Kraft Cheese Co.
When Marvin was one year old, he moved with his
parents to Bloomfield, Indiana. He attended his
first year of grade school there. His parents then
moved to Ridgeville, Indiana where he attended
second grade. His parents then moved to Sullivan,
Indiana attending third grade there and finally
moving to the Boyd area during his fourth grade
of school where he attended Liberty Hill
Elementary School which was a one room country
school. He graduated from the eighth grade in
1943, the same year at which he was confirmed at
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Boyd, WI. Marvin
continued his education at Augusta High School
for three years. His parents again moved to the
Thorp area where he graduated from Thorp High
School in 1948. Marv met his wife Catherine
Hegenbarth in 1947, marrying July 2, 1949 at Our
Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greenwood, WI. They
lived at the Delmar Cheese Factory in Boyd,
where Marv received his cheese makers license in
1949. He then did field work for Chippewa County
Co-op and in 1963 began working for Pure Milk
Products who merged with AMPI. Marv also
worked as a part-time police officer for seven
years in the 1960’s. In 1993 Marv and Cathy
retired to their home in Eau Claire, WI and in 2005
moved to Stanley to be by their family where they
became active members of Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church. Marv and Cathy cherished the 61
wonderful years of marriage they celebrated in
2009.
Marv is survived by his wife Cathy of Stanley, WI,
children, Randy (Nancy) Karlen and Terry
(Debbie) Karlen both of Stanley, WI; and Pam
(Don) Gunderson of New Auburn, WI;
grandchildren, Stacy (Jim) Haas, Krista (Andy)
Schmitt, Tara (Chris) Kodl, Jennifer (Luke) Walz,
Corey Karlen, Stephanie (Brad) Gottbeheut, Mike
(Lisa) Karlen, JoShane Karlen, and eighteen
great-grandchildren, Dustin & Tyler Haas, Kaleb &
Myia Christianson, Iszabeth Schmitt, Jesse, Grace,
Levi, Lily, and Emily Walz, Desiree, Isabelle & Mike
Jr. Karlen, Monica & Landon Karlen, Cassidy &
Mallory Kodl and Ben Gottbeheut, one brother,
Jerry Lee (Kay) Karlen of South Wayne, WI, and 3
sister-in-laws, Minerva, Leona & Geraldine. He
was preceded in death by his parents and brother
Dorval Karlen.
Services will be held on Thursday, August 12,
2010 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Savior’s Lutheran
Church, Stanley, WI with Pastor Sarah Semmler-
Smith officiating. Friends and family may call from
4-8 P.M. on Wednesday evening at the Plombon
Funeral Chapel, Stanley, WI.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for
me the crown of righteousness…
