Harold Karspeck, 101, of Goodland, Kansas passed away peacefully January 4, 2022, at the Goodland Regional Medical Center with his family by his side. Harold was born October 27, 1920, in Syracuse, NE. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Karspeck and the youngest of ten children. Harold was baptized into the Christian faith at the Delaware Country Church in Nebraska. The family farmed near Syracuse until Harold was six years old at which time they moved to the new farm his dad built six miles south of Burlington, Colorado. He attended a country school through the eighth grade and then attended Burlington High School, graduating in 1939. After graduation, he worked on the family farm northeast of Burlington with his parents.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Harold enlisted in the United States Army in July of 1942. He served in the European Theatre with the 168th General Hospital Unit. He was a motor pool sergeant in charge of ambulances, trucks and jeeps. The 168th crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Queen Mary with Winston Churchill. The 168th Hospital Unit entered France on the beaches of Normandy the same way it was done on D-Day. Harold was honorably discharged February 1946.
He married Mary Jane Anthis, the love of his life, December 8, 1946 in Cushing, Oklahoma. They enjoyed 65 years together. To this union three children were born: Steven, Kathy and Roger. Harold and Mary raised their family on the farm northeast of Burlington. They grew wheat, corn, milo and raised cattle. Some of the years were very hard with drought and terrible hail storms. But through these hard times Harold always enjoyed taking his family on fishing trips in the mountains. While we were fishing, Dad kept a hot fire with a fresh pot of coffee for everyone to enjoy.
While on the farm, the family was active members of First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Burlington. When Harold and Mary moved to Goodland in 1977, they joined the Goodland United Methodist Church. At this time, they were still involved in the family farm but now had time to enjoy many cruises and visited numerous foreign countries.
Harold was a lifetime member of the Goodland VFW Post 1133. He served as post chaplain for many years. Harold was the last surviving WWII veteran in Sherman County.
Those preceding him in death were his wife Mary Karspeck, daughter Kathy Scott, his parents, siblings Agnes Tonsing, Hilda James, Ruby Tonsing, Omar Karspeck, Irene Skidmore, Edna Krebs, and three who died in infancy.
Survivors include sons Steven (JoAnn) Karspeck, Hoehne, CO; Roger (Deena) Karspeck, Burlington, CO; and son-in-law Bill (Jeanne) Scott, Gold Canyon, AZ; six grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, January 10, 2022 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Koons-Russell-Funeral Home in Goodland, KS.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, 10:00 AM at Goodland United Methodist Church, Goodland, KS. Interment will follow in Goodland Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be designated to the Goodland United Methodist Church and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Funeral services have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.