Gary Karnatz

Gary D. Karnatz, 76, died Saturday at Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney.

Gary Karnatz was born on July 19, 1947, in Davenport, to Reuel and Helen (Koci) Karnatz. They lived north of Ong, before moving to Fairfield in 1954. He attended grade and high school in Fairfield and graduated in 1965. He then attended Milford Tech for two years studying diesel mechanics. Following graduation from Milford, Gary enlisted in the Air Force Service from 1968 through 1972 where he specialized in electronics and radar. His stations included bases in Texas, California, Mississippi and Georgia.  He was in Vietnam for five months.

Following his discharge, Gary lived in Texas until March, 2000 working for John Deere and was self employed as a mechanic.

Gary enjoyed cars, hunting and fishing until an unfortunate turn of events when he suffered a heat stroke plus a case of Guillian-Barre` in 1998 which resulted in his being in a wheel chair. He spent the years since in the Central Nebraska Veterans Home, first in Grand Island and then in Kearney upon the opening of that facility.

While in Grand Island, he was an active member. He worked in the library and cataloged all of their media and assisted the other residents on the computer. He received a special recognition from the home for his efforts of bringing the circus annually to the Veterans Home.

Gary is survived by his son, Daniel Karnatz of Austin, Texas; brothers, Jerry, Schuyler, Lyle from Edgar; sisters, Alleen Ernst,  Magnolia, Texas,  Diann Gentry, Fairfield; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Reuel and Helen, and step-father, Myrl Cook.

His funeral will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, at the Williams Funeral Home in Edgar with the Rev. Ethan Feistner officiating. Interment with military honors will be at the Fairfield Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Friday, 8 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.