Harry P. Karle

1927 - 2021

Harry P. Karle
January 4, 1927 - April 9, 2021
Fresno , California - Harry P. Karle was born on January 4, 1927 to Henry and Anna C. Karle, both from Straub, Russia, and he passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021, at the age of 94 surrounded by love and family in Fresno.
A graduate of Fresno State College with a B.S. in Viticulture in 1950, Harry went on to earn an M.S. in Plant Pathology in 1959 and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology in 1965, both from UC Davis. He began working at CSU, Fresno in 1962 in the Plant Science Department and served as the Chairman of the Plant Science Department from 1969 until moving into the position of Associate Dean of Farm and Mechanized Agriculture, the position he held until retirement in 1991.
While a professor at CSU, Fresno, Dr. Karle was active in numerous organizations, including the American Phytopathological Society, Sigma Xi, Alpha Zeta, National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, California Colleges and Universities Faculty Association, California State Employees Association, Agronomy Society of America, and served as the first Vice-President in 1980 (and subsequently as President in 1981) of the California Chapter American Society of Agronomy.
Dr. Karle was one of the founders of the Ag One Foundation and their annual Turf Day Golf Tournament. He was an active member of Ag One until his death.
He was preceded in death by his wife Patsey Karle; his parents Henry and Anna C. Karle; his brothers Peter Karle, Henry Karle, Albert Karle, Alex Karle, Dan Karle, and Ed Karle; and his sisters Anna Karle, Emma Rimer, Anna Weber, and Eleanora Kleim.
He is survived by his four daughters and their husbands: Trish and Terry Barclay of Gresham, OR, Kathryn and Paul McDougal, Carolyn Karle Kemble and Dan Kemble, Carey Karle and Maurice Bonetto, all of Fresno; his ten grandchildren: Timothy and Angela Barclay, Phillip and Meredith McDougal, Karley, Michaela, and Brianna Kemble, and Ema, Evan, and Eliot Karle Bonetto. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
The family thanks the Nazareth House for their exceptional care and support.
Visitation will be held at Sterling & Smith, 1103 E Street, Fresno, CA, 93706, on Thursday, April 29 from 4:00-7:00 PM.
A celebration of life will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 355 East Champlain Drive Fresno, CA 93730, on Friday, April 30 at 10:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the Ag One - Harry P. Karle Family Endowment or the Dr. Harry P. Karle Memorial Scholarship at Reedley College.
Ag One – Harry P. Karle Family Endowment, donate online, http://www.fresnostate.edu/jcast/agonefoundation/endowment/harrykarlefamily.html, or send donation payable to Ag One Foundation and mail to Ag One Foundation, 2910 E. Barstow Ave., M/S OF 115, Fresno, CA 93740.
The Dr. Harry P. Karle Memorial Scholarship at Reedley College, send donation payable to Reedley College Foundation (in the memo line, write: "Dr. Harry P. Karle") and mail to Reedley College Foundation, P. O. Box 227, Reedley, CA 93654.