Barbara Kappler Karn

Barbara Kappler Karn passed away peacefully at home on March 17, 2026, following a long and courageously fought battle with cancer. At the time of her passing, Barb was surrounded by those she loved most—her loving and devoted family.

She was born on March 4, 1939 in Utica, NY, the first of two daughters born to Margaret Wolff and Fritz Kappler and grew up in New Hartford, NY, on the family-owned C. Kappler & Sons, Horseshoe Falls Dairy. From an early age, Barb was an avid reader and a lover of learning—beginning her education in a one-room schoolhouse just a mile up the road from her family farm. She graduated from high school in 1957 and pursued higher education at a time when it was less common for women of her generation, attending Cortland State Teacher’s College, which would later become SUNY Cortland. In college, Barb was a sorority sister in Sigma Gamma Phi, also known as Arethusa, and there she developed loving friendships with “sisters” that would last a lifetime. In 1960, one of these “sisters” set-up Barb on a “blind date,” with Roger Alvah Karn—who ended up being the love of her life.

They married on August 18, 1962, and lived in Genoa at the Karn Family Farm. There, Barb began fulfilling her calling as a schoolteacher. Later, they moved to the Kappler farm where they lived until 1970 when Roger attended Army Aviation School. This was the beginning of Barb’s second “career” as a military wife and, as such, she lived and taught all over the world, strongly embracing a life of resilience and adaptability. In 1967, Roger and Barb welcomed their first son, Daniel and then, while stationed in Germany, in 1972, their second son, Roger. Barb often smiled when recalling the memory of the “Krankenhaus,” (hospital), where nurses knew how to say only one word in English: “Push!” Throughout these years, Barb created a sense of home wherever she went, always offering stability and love to her husband and sons through the multiple moves and challenges that military life often brings.

In 1981, they returned to New York, settling in Virgil. Barb began teaching at Virgil and took on yet another “career” as a farmwife, when they began the K-Krest Farm, raising beefalo and pigs. In the classroom, she touched countless lives, guiding her students with patience, wisdom and an unwavering belief in their potential. During her tenure with the Cortland School District, Barb was active on countless committees, always an advocate for children and education; she was loved by her colleagues and by her students. Following her retirement from Virgil in 2002-03, Barb didn’t slow down. She was an active member (and club treasurer) for the Tractors of Yesteryear Club, was actively involved in the CNY Living History Museum’s “Grandma’s Kitchen” exhibit, worked part time at Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill and enjoyed a cross-country camping trip with Roger. 

Barb lived a life defined by dedication, compassion, kindness and quiet strength. Above all else, she was a devoted, loving mother and grandmother. She always spoke of her family’s accomplishments with endless beaming pride, and nothing brought her more joy and happiness than her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When people say it “takes a village to raise a child,” Barb was that “village.” She did it all; from being a nurse when they were sick to driving them to appointments, practices, and even midnight trips to Cortland’s’ New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. This love for and dedication to her family shone through in everything she did; she gave of herself fully, always offering encouragement, kindness, strength and a steady presence that will be missed by all of them.

Barb was predeceased by her husband, Roger. She is survived by her two devoted sons, Dan [Shana] Karn, Roger Karn [Melissa Martin]; her grandchildren, Teall [Tully] Dugas, Melanie [Matt] Pitcher and Miranda [Mike] VanDonsel; three great grandchildren, Cooper and Danny VanDonsel and Eliana Pitcher; two stepgrandchildren, Carter and Cameron Martin; her sister, Susan McAnneny, and three sisters-in-law with whom she shared a very close bond, Catherine Wood, Sharon Napieracz, and Penny Hoffman, several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon on Friday, March 27 at the Shurtleff Funeral Home, 103 Lincoln Avenue, Groton, with a funeral service to follow at 12:00 PM.  Spring interment will be in Baker Cemetery, Moravia.

Memorial donations, in lieu of flowers, are graciously directed to the Cortland County SPCA, 879 McLean Rd., Cortland, NY 13045 (ccspca@cortlandspca.org), or to the Cortland Repertory Theatre, P.O. Box 783, Cortland, NY 13045 (https://cortlandrep.org).

Online condolences may be shared with Barbara's family at www.shurtleffservices.com .