Walter Stanley Karakula Jr.

Walter Stanley Karakula Jr.

July 11, 1933 – January 2, 2024

Wally's grandfather John Karakula immigrated from Galicia, Poland in 1895 to Honolulu, Hawaii to work at a sugar manufacturing plant. After the Spanish American War, in 1898 when Hawaii was annexed by the Unites States, he came to California and eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he met Kathryn Golab who came from Zolynia, Poland, and they were married in 1905. In 1915 they moved to Mosinee, Wisconsin and started a dairy farm. Their eight children included Walter Stanley Karakula, born in 1907, who moved to Detroit, Michigan and married Mary Paja, and they had four children including Walter Stanley Karakula Jr, born July 11, 1933. Wally graduated in 1951 from St Casimir High School where he played baseball and the drums. He married Lillian Esther Hietala, the daughter of Swedish immigrants Uno and Beda (Ylitalo) Hietala on December 5, 1953 at St Brigid's Church in Detroit. They moved to Ft George, Virginia and then Ft Lee, Maryland where he served in the US Army as a supply clerk and Lillian worked for the CIA 1953-1955. They moved to Inkster, Michigan and then to Dearborn and had six children: Karen, Kenneth, Kristopher, Katheleen, Kimberly, and Kirsten. Wally worked for the Bank of the Commonwealth for 14 years and then Chrysler Corporation for 26 years retiring in 1992. They were members of Hope Lutheran Church and then St Paul Lutheran Church in Dearborn where he enjoyed choir and being an usher. Wally enjoyed fishing and taking his family on vacations to Houghton Lake for many years. He was an umpire for Dearborn Softball Leagues and also played softball until age 80 and an avid Detroit Sports fan who attended many Tigers and Red Wings games. Wally was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Lillian Karakula on September 20, 2016. In 2017 after 51 years in Dearborn he purchased a cottage home on Pike Lake in Allegan, Michigan where he enjoyed time fishing, boating, and sitting on the beach with his 8 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren who live in the Kalamazoo area. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Allegan where he enjoyed the monthly Veteran's Coffee group. Wally was also preceded in death by his daughter Kirsten, his sister Theresa, brother Robert, and son-in-law Kurt Kachin. He is survived by five children: Karen (Steve) Beukema, Kenneth (Carolyn) Karakula, Kristopher Karakula, Kathleen Kachin, and Kimberly Lorenz, also 19 grandchildren: Michelle (Jonathan) Kelsey, Eric Beukema, Wendy Southwood, Kenneth (April) Karakula II, Christina (Mark) Mitchell, Johnathan Karakula, Rebecca Karakula, Bethany (Jonathan) Edwards, Timothy Karakula, Jeremiah (Tiffany) Karakula, Hannah Karakula, Nicole Karakula, Krista (Albert) Yant, Kevin Kachin, Katie Kachin, Kyle (Sam) Kachin, Kristopher Kachin, Bryan Schultz, and Stephanie Schultz, also 25 great-grandchildren: Anna Beukema, Tristan & Sophia Southwood; Nathaneal, Avalyn, Chloe, & Hollyn Karakula; Ella & Clara Kozminske; Kevin Lewman, Jacob & Levi Vandermey; Carolee, Annmarie, Wally, and Esther Edwards; Reagan & Haven Karakula; Avery & Alyssa Karakula, Albert Yant; Emma, Maxwell & Miles Kachin; and Dean Schultz. Wally is also survived by his brother Stephen (Barbara) Karakula, many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Beverly Karakula, and his lake neighbor friends Ed & Suzie Nahan. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 PM Sunday, January 7 at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 with a Lutheran Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. Services Celebrating his Life & Faith will be held 12 Noon Tuesday, January 9 at St Paul Lutheran Church, 21915 Beech Street, Dearborn, MI 48124 with visitation at 11:00AM and a fellowship luncheon to follow. Wally will be buried alongside his wife Lillian and daughter Kirsten in Glen Eden Memorial Park in Livonia. Memorial Gifts may be made to St Paul Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, or Centrica Care Navigators. To view Wally's personalized webpage please visit https://www.langelands.com