Allen Karlen (Aberdeen News / March 22, 2012) |
Columbia: The funeral service for Allen “Lefty” Karlen, 66, of Columbia will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 23, 2012, at Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory, 1708 Eighth Ave. N.E. The Rev. Tom Haggar will officiate.
Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens at a later date.
There will be a prayer service on Thursday at 7 p.m., with visitation from 5-7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Lefty died Sunday, March 18, 2012, at Aberdeen Health and Rehab.
Allen “Lefty” Karlen, son of Rudy and Dorothy (Mertz) Karlen, was born July 7, 1945, in Aberdeen. He grew up in Columbia and was a good athlete for the Columbia Comets, graduating from Columbia High School with the class of 1963. He worked construction around Columbia. He was united in marriage to Deanna Bohling in Columbia in 1964-1973. In the early 1970s, he moved to Sioux Falls and operated Lefty Karlen Construction.
He was united in marriage to Angela Mendoza in Sioux Falls in 1975-1983. He later worked for Lankford Construction of Johnsburg, Ill., working commercial construction.
He was united in marriage to Zaida Wander in Sacramento, Calif., in 1987-2003. For five years he then did commercial construction for the Target Corporation, but later went back to working for Lankford Construction. Lefty retired in 1998 and moved back to Columbia.
Lefty enjoyed sports as a participant all his adult life by playing slow-pitch softball and was a spectator of all sports. It was a lifelong enjoyment of his. He was an avid outdoorsman, especially hunting and fishing. Lefty had much joy canning vegetables and making gallons of pickles for his nieces in Minnesota. He loved his children and extended family very much.
Lefty is survived by two sons: Rudy (Heidi) Karlen of Sioux Falls and Kirk (Lori) Karlen of Aberdeen; two daughters: Tammy (Darrell) Karlen of Sioux Falls and Tonya Karlen of Hendersonville, Tenn.; his best friend, Nikki Kimball of Columbia; two brothers: Larry (Donna) Karlen of Roseberg, Ore., and Gerry (Denise) Karlen of Johnsburg, Ill.; two sisters: Darlys (Jerry) Hess of Fergus Falls, Minn., and Vonnie (Don) Shields of Pierre; one daughter-in-law, Karen Karlen of Aberdeen; seven grandchildren: Kalen Karlen, Chase Talcott, Carly Merges, Kelsey Merges, Chance Allen Karlen, Shay Brook Karlen and Brody Brook Karlen; and many nieces and nephews.
His parents, former wife, Angela, and one son, Brook (1-24-2010), preceded him in death.
Honorary casketbearers will be Gordy Johnson, Arlen Hanson, Nikki Kimball, Danny Kimball, Gordy Weideman, Robert Krage and Clyde Wells.
Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements.
carlsenfh.com
