Esther Viola Karman

Esther V. Karman, 99, of Wamego, KS, passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at the Westy Community Care Home. Esther was born November 19, 1911 in Junction City, KS the daughter of Albert J. Snell and Addie (Laird) Snell. She attended a rural grade school south of Junction City. She married Clarence E. “Jack” Karman on December 11, 1929 in Manhattan, KS. He preceded her in death in 1987. Prior to moving to Wamego in 1977, Esther had lived in Junction City until 1956, then Holton, KS until 1969, and then Clay Center, KS. She worked as a seamstress for 13 years until 1969 and then as a mail carrier until retirement in 1977. Esther was an accomplished seamstress and for many years made most of the clothing for her family. She enjoyed quilting, sewing and embroidering. She was a member of the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church of Wamego, where she was active in their quilting group and was also a member of the church L.W.M.L. Survivors include her daughter, Nadine Stueve and her husband Fred, of Wamego, KS; four granddaughters, Susan Lunas, Betty Schwoebel-Mills, Bonnie Kurka, Nancy Dekat; seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Henry, Vernon, Albert, Jr.; and sisters, Ruth Erichsen, Annie Erichsen, Gladys Malik, and Ora Sautter Strauss. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 30, 2011 at the Milford Cemetery, Milford, KS. A memorial service will also be held later at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church of Wamego, Friday, November 25, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Westy Community Care Home or to the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church Building Fund and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, PO Box 48, 66547.