Passed Away - Sylvia Karnopp

Sylvia Karnopp
Born May 6, 1920 - December 5, 2009
Lake View, Iowa

Sylvia Karnopp, age 89, of Lake View, Iowa, died Saturday, December 5, 2009, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday, December 11, 2009, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Groton, South Dakota, with The Reverend Craig Grams officiating. Professional arrangements are under the direction of Christensen-Huffman Funeral Home, Sac City. The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens in rural Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Born May 6, 1920, in Stratford, South Dakota, Sylvia Caroline Karnopp was the daughter of Erich and Anna (Schuelke) Stange. She was baptized on May 23, 1920, by The Reverend F.J. Graeber.

Sylvia attended Stratford School, graduating in 1937. She then attended Northern State College where she earned her teaching degree. She taught school in rural Brown County, Ashton, Putney, and Groton Public School for a total of 38 years, 32 of which were in Groton.

Sylvia taught Sunday school for many years in both Stratford and Groton. She also served as church organist at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stratford for a time.

On April 3, 1947, Sylvia was united in marriage to Ralph Karnopp in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They lived on several farms north of Groton until moving into town.

Survivors include two sons, Richard (Joni) Karnopp of Elysian, MN, and Dean Karnopp of Sac City; five grandchildren, Callie (Bern) Eustice of Janesville, MN, Adam Karnopp of Brookings, SD, Molly (Daniel) Westby of Cody, WY, Luke Knowles of Carroll, and Mindee (Jason) Birt of Coralville; six great-grandchildren, Emma and Jackson Eustice, Jada Knowles, and Chelsee, Hannah, and Jackson Birt.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a twin sister, Ruth Lorenz; and a brother in infancy.