Marvin L. Karnatz, age 94, passed peacefully away at home in the early hours of Friday, December 30.

Marvin was born September 17, 1922 in Deweese, Nebraska and moved to Lena in his teens. He graduated from Lena High School in 1941 where he was a member of the basketball team. He joined the US Army in 1942 and married high school sweetheart Lucille Ferguson during his first leave on December 1, 1943. They made their first home in Edmonton, Alberta where he was stationed in support of the Distant Early Warning Line that stretched across Canada's Yukon territory.

That experience led to employment with IBM Corporation in a career that spanned four decades and focused on technology support and customer service. He was proud of his support of research scientists at Argonne Laboratories and Fermilab whose projects included leading edge particle physics research and analysis of moon rocks retrieved during Apollo space missions.

The couple lived in Aurora, Illinois for over forty years but maintained a close relationship to their home town of Lena. They purchased a summer home there and returned as residents in 1989. Marvin was a baptized, confirmed and faithful member of St. John's Lutheran Church and was involved with the American Legion post where he helped to lead the effort to build a memorial to Veterans at the Lena Burial Park.

Marvin is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lucille, a brother, Vernon of Maineschaff, Germany, brother in law Norman Wybourn, a daughter, Nancy (Jeff) Hering of Rochester, New York, 2 sons, Jim (Peggy) Karnatz of Indianola, Iowa and John (Billie) Karnatz of Bartlett, Illinois. He loved his seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He is mourned by many neighbors and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Claire and grandson Tristan Hering.

There will be a visitation at St. John's Lutheran Church of Lena on Monday, January 2 from 2;00 p.m.- 5:00 pm and at 9:00 am, prior to the funeral 10:00 a.m. service on Tuesday, January 3 at the church. A committal service will immediately follow the funeral at Lena Burial Park.

Remembrances may be made to St. John's of Lena, Golden Meals of Freeport, Illinois or any worthy charity.