Sylvia Karnopp

Services for Sylvia Karnopp, 89, formerly of Groton will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 11th at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the church from 6-8 pm on Thursday and will continue one hour prior to services on Friday.

Sylvia passed away December 5, 2009 at Black Hawk Care Center in Lake View, Iowa.

Born May 6, 1920, in Stratford, South Dakota, Sylvia Caroline Karnopp was the daughter of Erich and Anna (Schuelke) Stange. She was baptized on May 23, 1920, by The Reverend F.J. Graeber.


Sylvia attended Stratford School, graduating in 1937. She then attended Northern State College where she earned her teaching degree. She taught school in rural Brown County, Ashton, Putney, and Groton Public School for a total of 38 years, 32 of which were in Groton.


Sylvia taught Sunday school for many years in both Stratford and Groton. She also served as church organist at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Stratford for a time.


On April 3, 1947, Sylvia was united in marriage to Ralph Karnopp in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They lived on several farms north of Groton until moving into town.


Survivors include two sons, Richard (Joni) Karnopp of Elysian, MN, and Dean Karnopp of Sac City; five grandchildren, Callie (Bern) Eustice of Janesville, MN, Adam Karnopp of Brookings, SD, Molly (Daniel) Westby of Cody, WY, Luke Knowles of Carroll, and Mindee (Jason) Birt of Coralville; six great-grandchildren, Emma and Jackson Eustice, Jada Knowles, and Chelsee, Hannah, and Jackson Birt.


She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a twin sister, Ruth Lorenz; and a brother in infancy.

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