Frances H. Karnes

Frances H. Karnes, 92, of Stevensville, passed away, Monday, March 8, 2010 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. Private family services will be held at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Lakeland Auxiliary-St. Joseph or to Lakeland Hospice. Arrangements are entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home. Those wishing to sign the Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Karnes was born April 30, 1917 in Wilmette, Illinois to Roy & Josephine (Biederstadt) Haskin. On April 12, 1941, she married Bruce Karnes in Wilmette. After moving to St. Joseph, Frances became active with, then Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She remained a volunteer at Lakeland for most of her life. She and her sister, Isabel, were founders of “The Lantern” coffee shop at the hospital. Frances was a member of First United Methodist Church in St. Joseph, and an active member with her husband in the St. Joseph Coast Guard Auxiliary since 1974. Fran's warm and loving spirit enveloped not only her family, but also her friends. She was a loving wife and mother to her family. Fran enjoyed wonderful family boating vacations on the Great Lakes and in Canada. She was a diligent and responsible first mate to her husband. Mrs. Karnes is survived by her children-Larry (Susan) Karnes of Mason, MI, Donald (Kimberley) Karnes of St. Joseph, Judy Karnes of St. Joseph, Wendy (Robert) Bowen of San Marcos, CA; nine grandchildren-David Karnes, Kelly Brown, John Karnes, Jessica, Tyler & Abigail Karnes, Robert Bowen III, Jason & Tracey Bowen; and one great –grandson Matthew Bowen. She was preceded in death by her husband Bruce on August 9, 2006, and by a granddaughter Tracy (Aaron) Lindsley on September 8, 2007 and sister Georgia (Richard) Senf and Isabel (Lewis) Stryker.