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Karle Sherman

September 18, 1924 - January 26, 2015
East Leroy, MI

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Visitation

Friday, January 30, 2015
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM EST
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Vicksburg Location
409 South Main Street
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-1697
Driving Directions

Service

Saturday, January 31, 2015
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM EST
Life Story Funeral Homes - Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren
Vicksburg Location
409 South Main Street
Vicksburg, MI 49097
(269) 649-1697
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

West Michigan Cancer Center
200 North Park Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 382-2500
Driving Directions
Web Site

Bronson at Home Hospice
5470 Glenn Cross Road
Battle Creek, MI 49015

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

VanderSalm's Flipse
1120 S. Burdick
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
(800) 232-7134
Driving Directions
Web Site

Heirloom Rose
407 S. Grand St.
Schoolcraft, MI 49087
(269) 679-3010
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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No stranger to hard work, Karle Sherman was a man of integrity and honor. He always made time for the family he adored, and considered them his greatest treasure. Karle lived by his strong Christian faith. He loved unconditionally, and lovingly accepted others for who they were. Deeply loved, he will be fondly remembered in the hearts of many.

Nestled in the small Michigan community of Fulton, Guin and Gladys (Lyon) Sherman had much to be thankful for on September 18, 1924 when they welcomed the birth of their little boy, Karle into their arms. Young Karle's story began while Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, and at a time when industry was booming in the U.S. With the economy soaring, the Roaring Twenties brought excitement to the air within an ever changing culture. Born and raised on their family farm, Karle grew up alongside his brother, Stanley, and two sisters, Ferne and Mabel.

Most of Karle's childhood consisted of farm chores along with his schooling. He experienced many boyhood adventures during his youth hunting, fishing, and trapping. Although times were difficult during the years of the Great Depression, Karle and his family were sustained, for the most part, from their land. As a family they enjoyed vacations up north to Houghton Lake where they spent memorable times with extended family. Before graduating from Athens High School in 1943, Karle played baseball. He would have also played on the football team, but it cut into trapping season!

Karle spent his time after high school working the family farm. However, while on a blind date, he met Miriam Nuding who quickly stole his heart. After dating for a time, they were joined in marriage on April 3, 1948. Before long, they were blessed with the addition of four children, including their son, Jan, and three daughters, Linda, Karen, and Bambi. As a father, Karle was always there for his children. Even though he worked long hours, he made it a point to attend their school and sporting events. He loved having his children by his side, and in all ways lived as a loving example of all a father should be. He spent quality time with them, and even included his children in many of his projects around the house, such as gardening. Sadly, Karle and his family experienced the sudden death of his son, Jan in 1972, at the age of 19.

Always the hard worker, Karle provided a good life for the family he loved. He began working at Post Cereal in 1950, and thoroughly enjoyed it there. Over the years he mainly worked in maintenance for the company, but he also worked in the rail yard, and later as a bug exterminator. He served the company well, having worked many long hours and was on-call every day. Karle retired from Post in 1984 to care for his wife, Miriam shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer. During this time in 1988, they went through the death of their daughter, Linda, when she was 38. These times were very hard on Karle, but his unending faith and family helped him through. Such a devoted husband, Karle saw to Miriam's every need until her eventual death on January 5, 1991.

Karle considered himself blessed despite some of the hardships and sorrows he faced. He kept himself busy, and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. Always one to keep a garden, he enjoyed time outdoors, and relished every opportunity to go fishing, especially with family and friends. Fishing and hunting were always a part of Karle's life. Some of his favorite places to fish was locally on Austin, Long and Indian Lakes, and upstate on the Muskegon River and Houghton Lake. Throughout the years his enjoyment of hunting never waned. He hunted both big and small game, and often recalled his memorable trip out west to Colorado when he went elk hunting.

Life turned in a new and exciting direction for Karle when he made a simple trip to a local drugstore in Athens one day. There he met Ernestine Ackerman, who was also widowed. After striking up a conversation, she expressed her condolences to him, and understood what he was going through in the loss of his wife. After discovering they had much more in common, Karle and Ernestine enjoyed their first date together sharing dinner at Finley’s Restaurant. Their friendship developed, and on December 28, 1991, they were married at the North Athens Baptist Church before family and friends. Always unconditional in his love, Karle accepted and treated Ernestine’s family as his very own.

Karle and Ernestine made for the best companions. They were both retired, and had a lot of free time to enjoy one another's company. They traveled extensively throughout the U.S. to destinations such as Disney World in Florida, and they even went lobster fishing in Maine. For several years they spent the cold months of winter in beautiful Bullhead City, Arizona located on the banks of the Colorado River. Throughout their 22 years together, the Lord blessed Karle with a helpmate in his later years. He and Ernestine enjoyed the love of family, and took in every moment together making special memories along the way.

Faith was an important part of Karle and Ernestine's life together. Although Karle was raised in the Methodist church, after marrying Ernestine he began attending her home church, North Athens Baptist Church. He always held fast to his Christian beliefs, and served in many capacities over the years at church including his roles as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. Karle found comfort, contentment, and understanding in his favorite passage of scripture, the 23rd Psalm.

Karle Sherman was a man devout to his faith, dedicated to his family, and served others with an open heart. He experienced his share of heartache in life, and cherished the many joys. Never far from memories reach, Karle will be long remembered and fondly missed.

Karle Sherman, of East Leroy, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2015 at the age of 90. Members of his family include his wife, Ernestine; two daughters: Karen Candelaria and her husband, Rich of Battle Creek, Bambi and her husband, Greg Hamming of Kalamazoo; his stepdaughter: Barb and her husband Rex Macadow; two stepsons; three grandchildren: Heather, Trisha, and Eric; five great-grandchildren: Zoe, Hannah, Braydon, Danny and Hunter and several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren. Other members of his family include his two sisters: Ferne and Mabel. He follows in death his wife, Miriam, son, Jan, daughter, Linda, and his brother, Stanley.

Friends may meet with Karle's family and enjoy light refreshments on Friday, January 30, 2015 from 4-7 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 South Main, Vicksburg 49097 (269) 649-1697 where the service to celebrate his life will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 1:00 PM. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to the West Michigan Cancer Center or to Bronson at Home Hospice. To share a favorite memory or photo of Karle and to sign his guest book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.

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