Edward Dean Karr

Edward Dean Karr, 78, of Knoxville, died Sunday, December 22, 2024, at his home in Knoxville. He was born on September 18, 1946, in Knoxville, Iowa, the son of Herman and Ruby Gilchrist Karr. He graduated from Knoxville High School with the class of 1965. In January of 1966, he entered the United States Army and served until he was honorably discharged in February of 1972. On October 2, 1970, he was united in marriage to Margaret Joy Sytsma in Knoxville. To this union two sons were born Richard and John. Ed worked for nearly 30 years at Pella Corporation in Pella. He was one of the first people in the plant to embrace the technology of cnc machines when they were introduced at Pella Corp. He spent the majority of his time there operating that machine making mutins. He retired in 1997 and loved every minute of his retirement. He took up woodworking and carving and made hundreds of Santa Clause statues. Ed was a passionate outdoorsman his entire life. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, 3D bow shoots, and camping. He was truly passionate about trap shooting. He traveled all over the Midwest to trap shooting competitions. He was a member of the Newton Gun Club and the Knoxville Sportsman Club.
His family includes his wife of over 54 years Margaret Karr of Knoxville; two sons, Richard (Maggie Norgaard) Karr of Bondurant and John (Dawn) Karr of Pella; two grandchildren, Atticus and Scarlett Karr; brothers and sisters in law, Larry and Linda Sytsma of Knoxville, Jim and Cindee Sytsma of Tracy, Marla and Bob Kephart of Knoxville, Leroy and Jean Sytsma of Oskaloosa, Cleo and Roger DeGroot of Oskaloosa, Judy and Steve Kingery of Knoxville, Debbie and Jerry Shaw of Knoxville, and Carol and Chris Stewart of Knoxville; and many niece and nephews.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Karen Hemmer; his father and mother-in-law, Leo and Viola Sytsma; a sister and brother in law, Virginia and Clark Puyear, and his dog, Sam.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at the Marion County Sportsman Club near Knoxville (1702 Old Highway 92, Knoxville, Iowa). Military honors will be given at 2:00 and the family will be at the sportsman club until 5:00 Friday evening to greet friends and relatives. Private burial of the urn will take place in the Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Memorials may be made to the Marion County Sportsman or the Newton Gun Club.