Paul Karns
November 4, 1936 — September 16, 2013
Paul L. Karns, Jr., age 76 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:50 p.m. on Monday, September 16, 2013 at his home following an extended illness.
He was born on November 4, 1934 in South Bend, Indiana to Paul L. and Ethel (Amick) Karns, Sr. He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in this area all of his life. He was employed for thirty years at the former Tyler Refrigeration plant in Niles.
Paul was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the United States Navy. He enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing, and mushroom hunting.
On June 27, 1959 at the Berrien Springs Baptist Church he married the former Opal Jewel Short with whom he celebrated last June the fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding.
Surviving family includes his wife, Opal Karns and their children, Cynthia (& Rex) Davis of Baroda, Michigan, Tammy Lynn (& Walter) Plouhar of Niles, and Timothy Allen Karns of Arkansas; grandchildren Anthony (& Lindsay) Davis, Staff Sergeant Christopher (& Sasha) Davis, U.S.Army, Courtney (& Michael) Williams, Jeremy (& Whitney Pinkowski) Plouhar, April Nichole Karns, Faith Candra Metz, and Jacob; great-grandchildren, Josephine, Makayla, Michael, Matthew, Layla, and Madison; and Paul’s sisters, Norma Palmer of Granger, Indiana, Ann Marie Miltenberger of Niles, Peggy Sernik of Berrien Springs, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Phyllis DeVos and Pat Simonas.
The funeral service for Paul Karns, Jr. will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Derek Cromwell of the First Baptist Church of Berrien Springs officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605.