James Lorin Karel passed away on June 12, 2019 in Wheat Ridge, CO. He was born April 3, 1931 to Adolph Karel and Hertha (Schwein) in Pilger, NE. He has one sister, Patricia Karel-Mueller, of Des Moines, IA. Jim graduated with a degree in Medicine from the University of Nebraska. He met his wife, Janet Bradshaw, in Ann Arbor, MI while interning at the U of M Hospital. He served as a physician in the United States Air Force for two years. Jim and Jan were married June 7, 1959. After Residency at the Mayo Clinic and the birth of their first daughter, Lynn, they moved to Denver, CO. After moving to Denver, Jim and Jan had 2 more daughters Laura and Jenny.
Jim established a private medical practice in Internal Medicine, where he practiced until retiring in 1997. During his years of medicine he trained and mentored many residents. He was very active in the Denver Medical Society, serving on many committees and a term as President. After retirement Jim served as a Chaplain at Hospice of St. John’s.
Jim was devoted in his faith and actively served at Glory of God Lutheran Church and sang in the church choir. From 1976 – 1986, Jim was elected to serve on the council of the Pacific region of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. He wrote several insightful theological papers that contributed to the formation of the AELC and eventually the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
He was also an avid gardener, enjoyed fly fishing in mountain streams, loved reading and listening to classical music. He also enjoyed watching his seven grandchildren grow up.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Jan. He is survived by his sister Patricia Karel-Mueller; his three daughters and their spouses; Lynn and Rob Dattilo, Laura and Scott Brookins, and Jenny and Roger Schulte; seven grandchildren Ethan, Vincent, Zachary, Amelia, Jacob, Newland and Collette.
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