Barbara Helen KARNITZ

1932 - 2021

KARNITZ, Barbara Helen The Lord in His wisdom and timing called our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Barbara Helen Karnitz, to her eternal home in Heaven on January 15, 2021. She was born on June 20, 1932, to Raymond and Irma Franz and raised in Watertown, WI. She received the washing of regeneration through baptism on July 1, 1932. Barbara received a Christian education through the eighth grade at St. Mark's Lutheran School and was confirmed in 1946. She attended high school at Northwestern Lutheran Prep, graduating in 1950. She also earned an AA degree for business classes she took during her last two years of high school, which led to a four year job with an insurance company following high school. In 1948, a Leap Year, Barbara asked Wally Karnitz, (a member of her church, with whom she also sang in the church choir), to a Sadie Hawkins party that was held on February 29. He accepted, as he himself had been wanting to ask her out on a date(!), and 6 years later on June 6, 1954, they were married in Watertown. Wally, who had just graduated as a Lutheran minister the day before, had a divine call from God to be a pastor at a mission in Spokane, WA, so Barbara and Wally headed west and settled in Washington State, where they remained for the rest of their married life. Except for two years in East Wenatchee in the early 1960s, they lived in Spokane, Nine Mile Falls, and Spokane Valley. Barbara and Wally were blessed with five children. In addition to being a homemaker, Barbara also worked almost 24 years for the WA State Department of Social and Health Services and the Office of Support Enforcement until her retirement in June, 1992. For 40 years Barbara was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spokane, including the Ladies' Aid and choir, before she and Wally moved to Spokane Valley and joined Gethsemane Lutheran Church in 2003. On January 12, 2019, Barbara suffered a stroke, and due to her need for around-the-clock care, she became a resident of A Nurse's Touch II, an Adult Family Home, in Spokane Valley. She also received hospice care from Horizon Hospice. Our family is so thankful to God for the love and care that the staff of each provided for Barbara these past two years. Barbara is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Wally, of 66 1/2 years; their five children: Paul (Erin) Karnitz, Teresa "Teri" Karnitz, David (Rhonda) Karnitz, Ann (Jerry) Lueck, and Patricia (Randy) Bischoff; 18 grandchildren (with 14 spouses), and 33 great-grandchildren. "Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her." Proverbs 31:28. Barbara is also survived by her brother, Robert (Karren) Franz, of Mesa, AZ; her sister, Suzanne (Ron) Ryback, of Waukesha, WI; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and two great-grandchildren. Barbara will be truly missed by all of us who loved her, but we celebrate with her as she is now in her glorious and eternal home of Heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life!" John 3:16. A memorial service will be planned for a later date. Memorials can be made to Gethsemane Lutheran Church and School, 11315 E. Broadway Ave., Spokane Valley, WA 99206. To share memories of Barbara or leave condolences for her family, visit her tribute wall at www.HennesseyValley.com.