Marvin Karau

Marvin Frederick Julius Karau of St. James, Minnesota, passed away on October 6, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Society in St. James at the age of 83.

A visitation will be on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home, St. James Chapel and will continue on Thursday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 11:00 am. The clergy will be Pastor Jacob Schlomer. Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.

Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in St. James.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Marvin “Marv” Frederick Julius Karau was born on March 19, 1940, to Frederick and Olidia (Schulz) Karau at the hospital in Madelia, Minnesota. He was baptized and later confirmed in 1954 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James. While growing up, Marv lived four miles east of Lewisville and attended country school in rural Lewisville, then briefly at Truman Public during his 8th grade year when Marv moved with his family to rural St. James in 1954.  At this time, being the first-born son, he was summoned to stay home and work the farm where they milked cows and farmed the land for many years. Marv also did custom work as a young adult when he wasn’t working on the homeplace, this is when he met his wife, Garnet Connell.

Marv and Garnet were married on May 15, 1965. They were blessed with four children, Dean, Tony, Audrey and Jeff .  Marv and Garnet raised their children on the Karau farm, which they purchased from Marv’s parents in 1966.  After the kids moved away, they continued living there and farming before moving into town and retiring in 2004, but Marv stayed very active in the farming operations as his legacy carried on and continues to.

Marv worked hard all of his life and was dedicated to providing a good life for his family. He loved to travel and was blessed with many trips to Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Colorado and South Dakota to name a few, and also going on two cruises. Marv and Garnet thoroughly enjoyed the 27 years they went to Texas during the Winter season.  They would also go up North and would go on countless camping trips with the kids and grandkids.

Marv was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a charter member of the Eagles Club where he served as President for two different years and attended many Eagles’ conventions. In addition, Marvin went to the Bandbox where he enjoyed playing cards and drinking coffee while solving the world’s problems.

Marv is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Garnet Karau; children, Dean (Jackie Smith) Karau, Tony (Rachel) Karau, Audrey (Bob Shelton) Karau, and Jeff (Jessica Rosario) Karau; grandchildren, Allison (Joe), Andrew (Rose), Shawn (Stacy), and Korryn (Brandon); eight great-grandchildren; siblings, Rosalin Ratike, Joline (Eldon) Wright, Doris Friesen, Dennis (Margaret) Karau, Gladys Berlin, and Helen Karau; brothers-in-law, Tim Karau and Edward (Linda) Connell; sisters-in-law, Carol Connell and Virginia Turgeon; and many nieces and nephews.

Marv was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Dorothy and Gregory in infancy, Ralph Karau, and Lucy (Archie) Voelker; brothers-in-law, Harland Ratike, Robert Connell, and Barry Friesen; father-in-law, Fritz Connell; mothers-in-law, Shirley Connell and Bette Connell; and granddaughter-in-law, Casey Karau.