Janice Ruth Karlson, 94, a Rochester resident for more than 60 years, died Sunday (April 20, 2008) at her home. She had been diagnosed with cancer last fall.
She was born Dec. 24, 1913, in Villisca, Iowa. In 1935, she graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, where she met a fellow student, Alfred G. Karlson. They were married in 1938. She taught school in Iowa briefly, and following her husband’s service during World War II the couple moved to Rochester in 1946. Her husband was on staff at Mayo Clinic, but traveled throughout the world. He died in 1987.
Mrs. Karlson was active in the local League of Women Voters, working to foster support of the United Nations and civic projects that included changing the form of the Rochester city government. She was a longtime supporter of the Rochester Public Library and for many years helped organize its annual book sale. She also participated in the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester and its Clara Barton Guild, and helped establish the Women’s Resource Center at the local YWCA.
Survivors include two sons, Alfred of Amherst, Mass., and Karl (Dorene) of St. Paul; three daughters, Kathy Karlson (John Perhonis) of University Park, Md., Trudy Karlson (David Weber) of Madison, Wis., and Julie Karlson (Douglas Abner) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; nine grandsons; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bruce Stillians of Honolulu.
Arrangements for a memorial service at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester are pending. Her ashes will be interred at the church.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
-Published in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, April 21 2008
She was born Dec. 24, 1913, in Villisca, Iowa. In 1935, she graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, where she met a fellow student, Alfred G. Karlson. They were married in 1938. She taught school in Iowa briefly, and following her husband’s service during World War II the couple moved to Rochester in 1946. Her husband was on staff at Mayo Clinic, but traveled throughout the world. He died in 1987.
Mrs. Karlson was active in the local League of Women Voters, working to foster support of the United Nations and civic projects that included changing the form of the Rochester city government. She was a longtime supporter of the Rochester Public Library and for many years helped organize its annual book sale. She also participated in the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester and its Clara Barton Guild, and helped establish the Women’s Resource Center at the local YWCA.
Survivors include two sons, Alfred of Amherst, Mass., and Karl (Dorene) of St. Paul; three daughters, Kathy Karlson (John Perhonis) of University Park, Md., Trudy Karlson (David Weber) of Madison, Wis., and Julie Karlson (Douglas Abner) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; nine grandsons; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bruce Stillians of Honolulu.
Arrangements for a memorial service at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester are pending. Her ashes will be interred at the church.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
-Published in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, April 21 2008
Janice Ruth Karlson, 94, a Rochester resident for more than 60 years, died Sunday (April 20, 2008) at her home. She had been diagnosed with cancer last fall.
She was born Dec. 24, 1913, in Villisca, Iowa. In 1935, she graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, where she met a fellow student, Alfred G. Karlson. They were married in 1938. She taught school in Iowa briefly, and following her husband’s service during World War II the couple moved to Rochester in 1946. Her husband was on staff at Mayo Clinic, but traveled throughout the world. He died in 1987.
Mrs. Karlson was active in the local League of Women Voters, working to foster support of the United Nations and civic projects that included changing the form of the Rochester city government. She was a longtime supporter of the Rochester Public Library and for many years helped organize its annual book sale. She also participated in the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester and its Clara Barton Guild, and helped establish the Women’s Resource Center at the local YWCA.
Survivors include two sons, Alfred of Amherst, Mass., and Karl (Dorene) of St. Paul; three daughters, Kathy Karlson (John Perhonis) of University Park, Md., Trudy Karlson (David Weber) of Madison, Wis., and Julie Karlson (Douglas Abner) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; nine grandsons; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bruce Stillians of Honolulu.
Arrangements for a memorial service at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester are pending. Her ashes will be interred at the church.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
-Published in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, April 21 2008
She was born Dec. 24, 1913, in Villisca, Iowa. In 1935, she graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, where she met a fellow student, Alfred G. Karlson. They were married in 1938. She taught school in Iowa briefly, and following her husband’s service during World War II the couple moved to Rochester in 1946. Her husband was on staff at Mayo Clinic, but traveled throughout the world. He died in 1987.
Mrs. Karlson was active in the local League of Women Voters, working to foster support of the United Nations and civic projects that included changing the form of the Rochester city government. She was a longtime supporter of the Rochester Public Library and for many years helped organize its annual book sale. She also participated in the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester and its Clara Barton Guild, and helped establish the Women’s Resource Center at the local YWCA.
Survivors include two sons, Alfred of Amherst, Mass., and Karl (Dorene) of St. Paul; three daughters, Kathy Karlson (John Perhonis) of University Park, Md., Trudy Karlson (David Weber) of Madison, Wis., and Julie Karlson (Douglas Abner) of Yellow Springs, Ohio; nine grandsons; 11 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bruce Stillians of Honolulu.
Arrangements for a memorial service at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester are pending. Her ashes will be interred at the church.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
-Published in the Rochester Post-Bulletin, April 21 2008
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