Date of death: 11/8/2006
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1953
Father John Karal, 80, died at his home in Marshalltown. Burial was in St. Patrick Cemetery, Fairfax. Father Karal was born Sept. 18, 1926, in Fairfax to Wesley and Rose (Mrstik) Karal. He was raised and educated in Fairfax and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Fairfax. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque and completed his theological studies at Saint Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, IN. He was ordained May 16, 1953, by Archbishop Leo Binz at Christ the King Chapel, Loras College. Father Karal served as associate pastor of St. Mary’s, Marshalltown, 1953-58; St. Mary’s, Guttenberg, 1958-59; and All Saints, Cedar Rapids, 1959-61. While in Cedar Rapids, he also taught at Regis High School. He was associate pastor of St. Columbkille’s, Dubuque, 1961-67; and St. Joseph’s, Waterloo, 1967-68. He served as pastor of Assumption of the BVM, Little Turkey and Reilly Settlement, 1968-71; and Immaculate Conception, Lansing, 1971-75. He was temporary administrator of St. Mary’s, Lycurgus; and pastor of St. James, Forest City; St. Patrick’s, Lake Mills, 1975-80. He was pastor of Sacred Heart, Rockwell; St. John’s, Cartersville; and St. Lawrence, Swaledale, 1980-82; and Holy Trinity, Protivin, 1982-83. He was associate pastor of St. Jude’s, Cedar Rapids, 1983-84. He was pastor of Sacred Heart, Oxford Junction, 1984-86; St. Francis Xavier, Belmond, 1986-91; Sacred Heart, La Porte City, 1991-93; and St. Mary’s, Ackley-Geneva and St. Mary’s, Eldora from 1993 until his retirement in 1994. His hobbies included golfing, gardening, quilting, sewing, painting, and cooking. He is survived by a brother, Franklin Karal of Fairfax, a nephew, three nieces, and six great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy; and a brother, Stanley. Memorials may be directed to the family in his name for the Marshalltown area Catholic schools.