Clara O. Karli, age 103, of Mabel, died Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel.
Clara was born at home on July 31, 1913 in Spring Grove, Minn., to Carl and Lena (Rice) Solie. She graduated from the Spring Grove High School. She took Teacher’s Training and later received her teaching degree from Winona State College. On January 2, 1946 she married Harold F. Karli at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. She taught in several rural schools in the area, Spring Grove, and Mabel (later Mabel-Canton) Schools until retiring at age 65. Harold later died on August 27, 1992. Clara continued to live in Mabel and stayed in her house until moving to Green Lea Senior living when she was 102 years old.
Clara was a member of the Mabel First Lutheran Church, WELCA, a 70-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Retired Educators Association, Minnesota Educators Association, Alpha Delta Kappa, and a founding member of the Mabel Garden Club. In 1960 she helped organize the first Steam Engine Days Queens Contest. She enjoyed volunteering at Green Lea Manor, sewing, quilting, gardening, baking and cooking, and children.
Clara is survived by a son, Deane Karli (special friend, Linda Eisterhold) of Rochester; a daughter, Ruth (Thomas Czaplewski) Karli of Dassel, Minn.; three grandchildren: Leif (Shestin) Czaplewski of Brooklyn Park, Minn.; Vanessa Karli (special friend, Eric Rakow) of Stanley, N. Dak.; and Danica (Jon) Bambenek of Winona, Minn.; two great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Savannah Czaplewski; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harold; four brothers: Thomas, Elmer, Roy, and Willie; three sisters: Pearl, Ida, and Helen; and nieces and nephews Carl Solie, Kathy Kruse, Les Solie, David Storlie, Ann Karli Rodman, and Lorraine Carsten.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, February 19, 2017 at the Mabel First Lutheran Church in Mabel, with Rev. Elliott Malm officiating. Burial will be in the Mabel Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will 4-6 p.m. Saturday, February 18 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel and one hour prior to services at the church.