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Michael B. Karn
Michael B. Karn picked up his shovel and marched happily into an
eternal garden on Friday March 23, 2018. His spirit is carried and held
dear by his wife Karen Sue, his two children, three grandchildren, two
brothers, an extended family of relations and a legion of life-long
friends. If you knew Michael B., it’s very possible you were in love
with him, so we know this news pains you as it does all of us.
But he wouldn’t want that, so let us focus on getting some facts
straight. Rumors of high school exploits involving cherry bombs are all
sadly true. Repeated “borrowing” Fort Greenville cannons to leave on
Karen Sue’s front porch - ridiculous but true. The fact that his high
school football coach singled him out as an example of the adage: “it’s
not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the
dog” - apt and true. Releasing a satchel full of pigeons in the Ohio
Northern University library - unverified but highly believable.
More than a mere prankster, Mike used his keen sense of humor and wit
to the benefit of us all. He could defuse Little League parent
squabbles with a warm joke. Parties started whenever Mike entered the
room. An evening spent listening to him and his brothers telling tall
tales left face muscles aching from laughter. At
Ohio Northern University, he was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi honors
fraternity and graduated with a pharmacy degree in 1963. He worked with
Fidelity and later Medicine Shoppe pharmacies in
Dayton OH and was a past President of the Miami Valley Pharmaceutical
Association.
Michael’s great loves, outside of his wife and family, were Formula One
auto racing and gardening. Starting in the 1970’s he turned a suburban
quarter acre into an organic oasis of flower and vegetable beds and
when he had lovingly landscaped every inch of that home, he and Karen
moved to Brookville OH, where their two acre home is adorned with rose,
vegetable and herb gardens and a small orchard. A long-time
Indianapolis 500 fan, he did not let his recent bout with tonsil cancer
keep him from enjoying last year’s race with racing buddy and son,
Michael Scott.
Michael B. is now re-united with his parents, Herman B. and Frances
Ebberts Karn and his beloved aunts and uncles, as well as two dogs and
a pet bird, all named Sparky. His children, Michael Scott and Bethany,
his son-in-law Jeff Plungis, his adored grandchildren Mikhail, Sonja
and Alexander Plungis and his brothers Jack and Neil Karn, all hope you
will join us in a love fest in his honor at Greenville Presbyterian
Church Thursday March 29, 2018 at 11:00 am. A viewing will be held
Wednesday March 28, 2018, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home
and Thursday March 29, 2018, 10:00 to 11:00 am at the church. Burial
will happen at the convenience of the family. Charitable
contributions to Hospice of Dayton or The National Audubon Society
would be a fitting tribute to his love of nature and compassion.
Condolences for the family may be expressed through www.zecharbailey.com
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