Diana S. Karr

Crystal Lake- Diana S. Karr, 86, of Crystal Lake and formerly of Marengo, passed away from lung cancer on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at home surrounded by her loving family.

Diana was born Daniela Zofia Rosiak on Sep. 4, 1924 in Warsaw, Poland to Stefan and Regina (Polewicz) Rosiak.

Diana’s parents raised her and her two brothers and sister in Warsaw, Poland until WWII when in 1942 the German Army split up her family, sending some to concentration camps and Diana to a forced labor camp in Germany laying railroad tracks for the German Army.

All members of Diana’s family survived the war. After being freed from the labor camp, Diana met American Army Private, Bennett Karr Jr. and they were married on April 5, 1947 in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Diana and Bennett returned to the U.S. and Diana became a naturalized U.S. citizen on December 1, 1952.

Diana spent most of her American life in Marengo, Illinois raising her children with her loving husband Ben.

Survivors include her sons, Michael (Linda) Karr, Thomas Karr, Brian (Deb) Karr, three grand children, Madison, Trevor and Zachary; her brother Aleksander Rosiak and her sister Jadwiga Kronal of Sweden.

Diana was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett; sons, Alexander and David; her parents and her brother Tadeusz Rosiak.

The visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, at Marengo-Union Funeral Home, 505 E. Grant Highway, Marengo. A Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 323 N. Taylor St., Marengo. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her name may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or 800-227-2345.

For information call the funeral home at 815-568-8131. Online condolences may be made at www.querhammerandflagg.com.