Wayne Joseph Karl

Wayne Karl passed away suddenly on January 30, 2024, at the St, Cloud Hospital. He was 64 years old.

 A Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Osakis.

A Celebration of his life will follow starting at 12:30 PM at the VFW in Osakis.

Wayne was born to David and Elizabeth (Iten) Karl in St. Cloud, Minnesota on May 5, 1959. He grew up in Rice and graduated from Rocori High School.  He was united in marriage on July 29, 1978, to LaDonna (Lindmeier) in Cold Spring. Wayne and LaDonna relocated to Osakis in 1982. Wayne worked for Rollies Tank Service in Osakis for several years before starting Wayne’s Auto Repair in Osakis. Wayne loved his family. His greatest joys were his wife, LaDonna, sons, Joseph (Laura) Karl and Dustin Karl, and his two granddaughters Emma and Lucy Karl. He also cared deeply for his beloved wiener dogs Max, Annie and Morticia, as well as his grand dog Bradley. Wayne looked forward to playing Santa Claus for Santa Days in Osakis every year. It brought Wayne great joy to see the smiles on the kids’ faces when they got to sit on Santa’s lap. Wayne even chuckled when his own granddaughter sat on Santa’s lap and announced, “You’re not Santa your grandpa!” one year.

Wayne suffered the long-time illness of stockcar fever which he also passed onto his children. He was a lifetime fan of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. and was an avid collector of Earnhardt racing memorabilia. He grew up behind the wheel and under the hood. While racing at several local tracks, Wayne loved working on his son’s race cars and was always willing to help the younger generation of drivers. Wayne was a tech official from 2007-2012 for I-94 Sauk Centre and Fergus Falls racetracks and traveled with the Midwest ASA and Truck Series as a tech official. He was also a member of Wissota Racing IMCA Old Timers, Northern Vintage stockcar Racers, Hot Rod Racing Tour, and Ice Racing in Underwood.

In more recent years, Wayne would spend his summers racing in the Vintage Racing series with his sons at different tracks around Minnesota and would spend his winters (When ice allowed) ice racing in Underwood. Wayne was even able to convince his granddaughter Emma to go ice racing with him for a couple of years. Wayne was a lover of vintage cars and trucks and loved cruising around in his 53’ Ford pickup a 57’ Ford Fairlane. He belonged to the MSRA, Long Prairie Car Club and Good Guys Car Club. Wayne was a member of the Central Lakes Cruzer's for 30 years of which he was the president for 20 years.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ladonna (Lindmeier) Karl; sons, Joseph (Laura) Karl of Garfield, Dustin Karl of Osakis; granddaughter’s, Emma and Lucy Karl. Also left behind is his mother, Elizabeth Karl; and siblings, Rebecca (Jim) Lynch, Leon Karl all of Waitsburg, WA.  Wayne is preceded in death by his father, David Karl; brother, Jerome “Jerry” Karl; infant brother Leon Karl; infant sister, Theresa Karl; beloved grandparents, Leon and Florentine Iten; and Mother-in-law, Laura Lindmeier.

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