Marquette, MI – Karl Garhardt Werner, age 89, of Marquette, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, June 16th, 2022, at his home.
Born April 25th, 1933, in Marquette, a son of Karl and Helen (Blume) Werner, Karl was raised in Marquette, next door to the house he would live in later in life. He attended the John D. Pierce and Graveraet schools. As a youth, Karl often accompanied his father deer hunting, which was a welcome source of food for the family. In school, he was very artistic, especially good with pastels and charcoal drawings, participated in high school wrestling, earning the nickname “The Pickle”, and worked at Public Service Garage while in high school. He graduated from Graveraet High School in the early 1950’s. Karl joined the US Army, actively serving in Korea as a sharpshooter and corporal of the guard. He liked Seoul, Korea and often mentioned how a general took a liking to him and had him stationed in a demilitarized zone, although he was still close to the action. Karl was proud of his service and being awarded Soldier of the Week. He enjoyed his time spent in Tokyo, where he received a grand tour of the city from a local in a ’47 Buick, and got to see Marilyn Monroe.
Following his honorable discharge, Karl returned to the Upper Peninsula, where he found there were not many jobs. So, buying a new 1955 Olds 88, he and his good friend, Lee, traveled around the country, hitting New York City and West Point among their travels. Karl then moved to Milwaukee in search of work, and it was there he met his future wife, Olive Regina (Jean) Jackson, introduced through a total stranger at a Greek restaurant. The couple was married, August 2nd, 1958, together making their first home in Milwaukee, where they began raising a family. In 1966, the family moved to Marquette, where Jean preferred a safer and slower pace and Karl returned to his roots. At first, the family lived with Karl’s mother, while building their own home next door. For years, Karl was employed in maintenance, mainly at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming.
Karl had a passion for cars and loved attending the annual Iola car show in Wisconsin, as well as, collecting diecast model cars. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed entertaining his grandkids with his stories, taking rides around Presque Isle, feeding the squirrels, sketching and painting, and was a frequent diner at McDonalds and the Big Boy. He was a kind, considerate, and devoted family man and made numerous friends throughout the years with his outgoing personality. Karl was a very passionate Christian who not only nurtured his faith, but lived it out through his actions. He was always praying for everyone and loved sharing the message of the Lord with both friend and stranger. He was an ordained deacon of the Harvey Baptist Church and later on a member of Marquette’s First Baptist Church and then Northpoint Baptist Church. Both he and Jean loved leading people to the Lord.
Karl was also a member and former president of the Superiorland Kiwanis Club.
Karl is survived by his children, Karl Werner, Jr and Clarissa Lancour both of Marquette; grandchildren, Sierra (fiance, Alex Morse) Lancour and Jeremy (fiance, Kelsey Fulsher) Lancour; great-granddaughter, Payton Morse; sister-in-law, JoAnn Jackson of Cudahy, WI; numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Karl was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Jean; a brother, Jim Werner; and his eight year old sister, June.
Services will be arranged for a later date and will be announced.
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.