John Francis Karst

“Loving Family Man” “Forever Hoven Proud”

John Francis Karst, age 78, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 2, 2023, at The Homestead assisted living community in Anoka. He was a devout Christian, and the Lord called him home after his call for help.

John was born on August 25, 1945, at the Hoven, SD hospital, the 4th of 7 kids of Ralph and Veronica (Schaefer) Karst. He was raised on the Hoven farm that his great grandpa started in 1899 and swelled with pride about his small-town upbringing. John treasured going on family vacations. According to him, there were few worthy places other than back to the family farm, the Black Hills, the Badlands, or the hot springs in SD.

John was a 1963 graduate of Hoven High School, a 1967 graduate from Northern State University in mathematics and business, and while enlisted in the US Air Force, got his master’s degree in industrial engineering. He proudly states that he ran track and field for all three organizations. He went on to get a machinist degree from Kirkwood Community College in 1980.

John met his girl, Diane, while at Northern, and they married in 1967. They raised three girls while living in ND, OH, IA, and MN. When the youngest one was 12, they added a son. Always finding ways to make things work, Diane laughs that she loved her red-neck husband for 56 years.

A big step that shaped him and his family’s course was enlisting for 7 years in the US Air Force, from 1968 to 1975, during the Vietnam War crisis. He was a missile launch officer in Grand Forks for four years then in charge of a $10 million procurement program at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He helped instruct 350 officers in the proper procedures of 400 nuclear warheads on 50 intercontinental Minuteman II missiles, in 3 squadrons. He reached the rank of Captain.

After the military he worked at the Jewel T Company as a home route salesman, then 13 years at Mate Punch and Die as a machinest.

John had a fun-loving nature that made him a lovable to all. His later years were spent volunteering for many organizations; Bridging, Sharing and Caring Hands and TLC Toys. He especially loved being the American Legion Baseball team representative. He was a life-long blood donor for the American Legion. His favorite song was Johnny Cash Ring of Fire, and the boys of the American Legion baseball team cheered when he would dance to that.

John is survived by his wife Diane, 6 siblings: Duane (Marilyn) Karst, Diane (Gary) Wilkenson, Jane (Ray) Sebert, Francis (Bonnie) Karst, Mary (Stan) Zimmer, and Melvin (Nicki) Karst, 4 kids, 9 grand kids, and 5 great grand kids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 nieces.

Arrangements are pending for a mass, ash burial, and remembrance in Hoven, SD in the spring of 2024. Memorials and donations can be made in John’s honor to a charity of your choice, as he believed fully in giving back to his community.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GearhartAnokaChapel.com for the Karst family.