Dennis Edmund Karp

Dennis Edmund Karp, 57, Blackhoof Valley passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Monday, January 17, 2005. He was diagnosed with cancer on December 23, 2004 and faced his illness with humor and great dignity. Dennis was born July 14, 1947 in Cloquet, the son of Felix and Helen (Anderson) Karp. He was a 1965 graduate of Cloquet High School. Dennis married Susan Swanson on April 9, 1966 in Mahtowa. He was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 - 1969. Dennis was a women's softball coach for 30 years, was a softball umpire for a number of years, served on the Carlton School Board for 20 years and was Chairman of the School Board for several of those years, was Past Commander of the Nicholson-Sellgren VFW Post in Carlton and was an active advocate for the rights of handicapped persons. He was a self-employed repairman of starters, alternators and generators. Dennis was an avid grouse and deer hunter and loved to watch the Vikings and the Twins. He was the Destination Imagination regional challenge master for the mechanical problem, was a former coach for Destination Imagination and served as a judge for the Minnesota Student Inventors Congress. He was a member of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America and served on the Arrowhead Regional Corrections Board. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Beverly; five uncles, Bob Sandstrom, John Anderson, Rudoloph Anderson, Pete Karp and Edmund Karp; two aunts, Jennie Oles and Mary Wegmiller; his father-in-law, Herman Swanson; a brother-in-law, Sherman Swanson and his good friend, Roger Seboe. Dennis was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by his wife of 38 years, Susan of Blackhoof Valley; his son, Dennis (Tammy) Karp, Jr. of Rochester; his daughter, Bridget (Mike) Soderstrom of Carlton; four grandchildren, Rachel and Megan Karp and Eric and Ben Soderstrom; his aunt, Jennie Sandstrom of Scanlon; cousins, Helen Anderson, Bud Oles and Jess (Jackie) Oles; his mother-in-law, Esther Swanson of Blackhoof Valley; three brothers-in-law, Stuart (Donna) Swanson of Carlton, Butch Swanson (Gloria Olesiak) of Mahtowa and Mitch (Julie) Swanson of Fond du Lac, WI; three sisters-in-law, Betty Swanson and Shelley (Chuck) Rilea both of Carlton and Teresa Swanson of Blackhoof Valley; aunt, Millie Wieck of Blackhoof Valley; uncle, Harold Wegmiller of Duluth; three AFS sons, Jonas Engardt of Sweden, SomKiet Sao Tung of Thailand and Sergio Barrientos of Honduras, a special friend, Harold Fulton; numerous nieces, nephews, friends, extended family and his beloved parrot, Taco. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dennis's good friends, Dr. Sanford, Dr. Martinelli and Dr. Wolf and extend their deepest gratitude to all of the caring staff at the Miller Dwan Burn Unit for their love, support and tender care. Funeral services were held on Friday, January 21, 2005 in Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Spring burial will be in Sandy Lake Cemetery, Blackhoof Valley. Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet.