Ruth A Karns

MADISON - Ruth Aurora Karns, age 87, passed away at Oak Park Place on Wednesday, Jan. 6. 2021. She was born Aug. 15, 1933, in Menomonie, Wis., the daughter of George and Aurora (Kraft) Sipple. She graduated from Menomonie High School in 1951 and then attended The Stout Institute, graduating with a major in Dietetics and Home Economics in 1955. Ruth married her high school sweetheart, D. William Karns, Oct. 10, 1953, and moved to Madison. Ruth taught Home Economics for 29 years in the Madison Public Schools. She also became a licensed real estate broker and was a Mary Kay consultant. As she reached her retirement years she worked as a sales associate at the Boston Store evenings after she taught school at Sennett Middle School. After her retirement from the Madison Public Schools Ruth worked for Reserve America making camping reservations for both state and national parks. She loved talking to customers on the phone and learning about people’s vacation adventures. Her passion was cooking and baking. One of the all-time family favorites was her chocolate chip cookies. Ruth would bake batches of these delicious treats and send them home with her kids, grandkids, with the hunters on their annual deer camps and when kids went off to college. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, needle point, crossword puzzles and was a very passionate reader. She also loved and cherished the time spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Anyone who knew Ruth or ever met Ruth always described her as one of the nicest, gentlest and sweetest people they had ever met. She was bubbly; she always had a big smile and hug for everyone she greeted. Ruth had a special warm heart and always made everyone feel welcome and loved. The world lost a treasure and a gem the day Ruth passed away. She is survived by her husband of 67 years; her three children, Bill Karns (Beth Gohdes), Vicki (Bruce) Harbin, and Debbie Karns (Jim Klinzing); nine grandchildren, Jessica Karns-Bingham (Beau Bingham), Danielle (Travis) Dunn, Brian (Alex) Harbin, Jon Karns, Hannah Karns (Matt Gifford), Kimberly Kundysek, Sam (Maddi Bear) Karns, Aubrey Harbin, and Jacob Karns; and 20 great-grandchildren. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved sister, Mary; and her two brothers, Robert Sipple and William Sipple. Funeral Service will be held at SPRINGS OF HOPE FELLOWSHIP, 901 Femrite Drive, Monona, at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. Burial will be at Sunset Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Friday. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420