Karl Walter Krahenbuhl died on July 14, 2023, at the SSM Health Monroe Hospice Home, having squeezed every bit of life he could out of his 90-plus years. He was born on November 2, 1932 to Christian and Rosa Krahenbuhl. Together with his parents and two sisters, Karl lived in Illinois for several years before his family settled among fellow Swiss immigrants in Monroe, where he lived the rest of his life.
Karl graduated from Monroe High School and enlisted in the US Marines Corps, where he proudly served until he returned home to manage the family farm. It was shortly thereafter when he met the love of his life, LuAnn Wehinger, at Bluff View Dance Hall in Brodhead, dancing to “The Blue Skirt Waltz,” which remained one of his favorite songs throughout his life. He married LuAnn on January 9, 1954 and she was his constant companion in life for the next 70 years, his “right-hand-man” on the farm, and the mother of their eight children. Their covenant of love was a witness and example for their children and families to the very end, “until death do us part.”
Karl was a great farmer, providing for his inter-generational family for most of his adult life. When he retired from farming, he worked at Rufenacht Oil Company for a short time, and finished his working career at Monroe Truck Equipment, where he referred to himself as the “vice-president in charge of the whole lot.” He enjoyed a competitive game of Jass, coaching the Green Bay Packers from his Lazy Boy, and being with his family when they returned home for visits, especially when he could dole out stories and wisdom while sharing the traditional cigar and Korbel. He travelled to Switzerland two times, meeting his relatives and enjoying his Swiss roots, of which he was especially proud.
Karl was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, Paul; his brother-in-law, Harold; his sister Margaret and her husband, Duane Hawthorne; and his daughter-in-law, Jan Krahenbuhl. He is survived by his wife, LuAnn, and their children: Greg (Connie Barbier), Carlie (Les) Etscheidt, Kathy (Brian) Mayer, Gary, Walt (Maureen), Rob (Christopher Grattan), Ann (Steve) Warren. He is further survived by twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and his sister, Heddy Shager.
His family and friends will gather to remember him with prayer at 11:00 o’clock on Thursday, July 20 at the Shriner Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe, and for his burial at Calvary Cemetery. A visitation will be held an hour before the service.
A special thanks to the staff at Aster, the “girls” that could always put a smile on his face; and the staff and volunteers at Monroe Hospice, as Karl negotiated his last weeks of his earthly life and prepared for eternal life.
