Donald Karns

Donald Cloyd Karns, 75, a longtime Anita resident, businessman, community and civic leader, died Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Don was born October 30, 1932, in Adair, Iowa. Don was the younger of two children of Cloyd and Irene (Gipple) Karns. The family moved to Missouri in 1935; Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1937; and returned to Adair County in August 1943, where they farmed in the Berea vicinity. Don attended Berea country school and then Anita High School, graduating in 1951. His father died suddenly in the summer of 1951, and Don returned to his parents' farming operation in Adair County.

Don married Marjorie Roots in Anita on February 1, 1953. They farmed in the Berea vicinity. In November 1957, they moved to Anita where Don was employed at Anita State Bank. He was associated with the bank for nine years. In April 1967, he joined the Town & Country Insurance Agency as a partner with Paul Clemmensen and E.D. Brocker. The firm later became known as Brocker, Karns & Karns. He retired from the insurance firm in 1998. In recent years, he worked part-time at Rolling Hills Bank.

Don was an active leader of countless business, community, and civic organizations. He was Cass County Republican Chairman during the mid-1960s and served as county election chairman for Governor Robert D. Ray. He was elected mayor of Anita in November 1971 and served nine years. He was a member of the Anita United Methodist Church, Masonic Order, Rotary Club, 10-year member of the Anita Volunteer Fire Department, and past captain of the Anita Emergency Volunteer Service.

Economic development and community projects were of particular importance to Don. Some of the major projects he was directly involved in included the development of Lake Anita State Park, Crestwood Hills Golf Course, and the Anita Library/Community Center. He served as Anita Development Corporation president, and at the county level he served as president of the Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation and president of CADCO, Cass-Atlantic Development Corp. In recent years, he was involved with the Anita Health and Wellness Center, Anita Child Care, Main Street Market, and other community projects.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Cloyd and Irene Karns; sister, Marjorie (Howard) Thomas; nephew, Larry Thomas; and niece, Cathy Thomas.

Don is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marjorie; daughter, Rebecca (Steven) Hagen of Marshalltown; sons, Douglas (Deborah) of Cedar Falls, and Roger (Chantel) of West Des Moines; 7 grandchildren, Benjamin Hagen, Michael (Kimberly) Hagen, Alicia Hagen, Daniel Karns, Emma Karns, James Karns, Patrick Karns; 1 great-grandchild, Lucas Hagen; niece, Barbara (Don) Culbertson; nephews, Cloyd (Chris) Thomas, Paul Thomas; sister-in-law, Marilyn Robinson; and many other family and friends.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, August 4, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Anita, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, August 3, 2008, with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Hockenberry-Mullen Funeral Home in Anita.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Anita Library/Community Center, Anita Health and Wellness Center, or Anita United Methodist Church.