Home > United States of America > Kansas > Lyon County > Emporia > Rosean Cemetery > Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr

Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr

Birth	:	15 Oct 1936 Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	8 Dec 2019 Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Rosean Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.5344009, -96.1464005
Description	:	Gerald L. "Jerry" Karr October 15, 1936 - December 08, 2019 Gerald “Jerry” Lee Karr, age 83, passed away at the Holiday Resort in Emporia, Kansas, on December 8, 2019 after several hospitalizations related to cancer. Jerry was born on October 15, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas, the oldest of eight children born to Orren and Kathleen (Keller) Karr. Jerry grew up on a farm north of Emporia and graduated from Americus High School. He attended the College of Emporia and later received his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics (1959) from Kansas State College where he was a member... Read More	Gerald L. "Jerry" Karr October 15, 1936 - December 08, 2019 Gerald “Jerry” Lee Karr, age 83, passed away at the Holiday Resort in Emporia, Kansas, on December 8, 2019 after several hospitalizations related to cancer. Jerry was born on October 15, 1936 in Emporia, Kansas, the oldest of eight children born to Orren and Kathleen (Keller) Karr. Jerry grew up on a farm north of Emporia and graduated from Americus High School. He attended the College of Emporia and later received his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics (1959) from Kansas State College where he was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity. He married Sharon Kay (Studer) Karr on October 18, 1959 in Manhattan, Kansas. After their marriage, Jerry and Sharon moved to Belleville, Illinois, where he managed the livestock operations for Eckhert’s Orchard Farms. The couple later relocated to Carbondale, Illinois where both began graduate school at Southern Illinois University. Jerry obtained his Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics (1962) and Ph.D. degree in Economics (1966). He also served in the US Army Reserve from 1959 to 1965. In 1964, Jerry’s family moved to Warrensburg, Missouri where he served as an assistant professor of economics at Central Missouri State College. From 1967 to 1972, Jerry held a faculty position with the University of Illinois-Urbana. As part of a USAID grant through the University of Illinois, Jerry served for three years as the department head of agricultural economics and extension at Njala University College located in Sierra Leone, West Africa. In 1972, he relocated his family to Wilmington, Ohio, where he served as the head of the department of agriculture and manager of the school farms at Wilmington College. In 1976, Jerry left academia and returned to his agricultural roots in Kansas. He and Sharon purchased a family farm near Emporia – not far from his parents’ homestead. Jerry began a farrow to finish hog operation and expanded his crop holdings into Kenoma Farms with his son, Kevin. He remained actively involved in the farm and enjoyed working in the fields with his grandchildren. From 1981-1998, Jerry served as state senator for the Kansas 17th Senate District and represented his constituents in Lyon, Chase, Marion, Morris, Geary, Wabaunsee and Osage counties. He served as the Senate minority leader from 1991-1996 and was the ranking minority member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Jerry successfully advocated for the passage of several bills, including the 1981 farm corporation bill, the 1986 economic development bill, and the 1992 public school finance law. Upon his retirement from the Kansas Senate, Jerry was formally recognized by his colleagues as “an effective, pragmatic politician, leading his party and working with Republican majorities to craft legislation to spur the economy and to help working families.” During his legislative career, Jerry most enjoyed meeting his constituents at local community events throughout his senate district. In 2004, Jerry was appointed as co-chair of the Kansas Wind and Prairie Task Force which identified areas of the Tallgrass Prairie appropriate for preservation and wind energy development. Jerry was an active member of many civic and nonprofit organizations, to include the Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army of Emporia, YMCA Camp Wood, Emporia Kiwanis Club, Lyon Country Democrats, Kansas Farmers Union, Kansas Pork Association, Lyon County Livestock Association, and Kansas State University Alumni Association. Jerry also served as a board member for nonprofit organizations and volunteered countless hours for local charities and community events. He was a long-time member of the Americus United Methodist Church. He is survived by his son, Kevin Karr (Sandy) of Emporia and daughter, Kelly Getty (Chris) of Abilene, Kansas; four brothers, Robert Karr (Elaine) of Emporia, Kansas, Mickey Karr (Karen) of Americus, Kansas, Marion Karr (Rosemarie) of Wiesbaden, Germany, Dennis Karr (Cathy) of Indianapolis, Indiana; and two sisters, Erma Jean Riley (Bill) of Manhattan, Kansas, Colleen McKinney (Alan) of Independence, Missouri; and sister-in-law Susan (Curry) Karr of Gardner, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Olin (Michaela), Krisanne, Randal, Alisha, Kailey, Paige, and Joe Karr of Emporia and Kaylin and Justin Getty of Abilene, Kansas; and one great granddaughter, Cassidy Karr of Emporia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Karr; his parents, Orren and Kathleen Karr; and a brother, Steven Karr. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church, Emporia. Interment will follow at the Rosean Cemetery, north of Emporia. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church, Emporia. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army of Emporia, YMCA Camp Wood, Emporia Kiwanis Club or Americus United Methodist Church. Contributions may be sent to Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, PO Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr's memorial?
Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr's memorial is located at: Rosean Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA.
When did Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr death?
Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr death on 8 Dec 2019 in Emporia, Lyon County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Gerald Lee “Jerry” Karr's memorial?
Latitude: 38.5344009
Longitude: -96.1464005

Family Members:

Parent

Orren Leslie Karr

(1909 - 2005)

Kathleen Marie Keller Karr

(1913 - 2009)

Spouse

Sharon Kay Studer Karr

(1938 - 2018)

Siblings

Michael Earl “Mickey” Karr

(1939 - 2021)

Steven Dale “Steve” Karr

(1955 - 2009)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Rosean Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5344009, -96.1464005

2. Frost Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5573900, -96.2022300

3. Americus Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5154686, -96.2420425

4. Phillips Cemetery
Reading, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5578003, -96.0513992

5. Ivy Cemetery
Admire, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6156006, -96.0597000

6. Allen Cemetery
Allen, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6521988, -96.1611023

7. Admire Cemetery
Admire, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6511002, -96.1074982

8. Camp Alexander Grounds
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4177210, -96.1072080

9. Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4202995, -96.2055969

10. Union Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4375000, -96.0425034

11. Bushong Cemetery
Bushong, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6366997, -96.2431030

12. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Columbarium
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4084053, -96.1796799

13. Sunnyside Cemetery
Bushong, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6083900, -96.2853700

14. Mount Calvary Cemetery
Reading, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5280991, -95.9781036

15. Reading Cemetery
Reading, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5203018, -95.9693985

16. Forest Hill Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4124000, -96.0604900

17. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3932991, -96.1418991

18. Badger Creek Cemetery
Neosho Rapids, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4049988, -96.0582962

19. Fruitland Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5078011, -96.3308029

20. Fowler Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3897018, -96.1091995

21. Soden Family Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3872190, -96.1813510

22. Wilhite Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3830500, -96.1240900

23. Cottonwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4130096, -96.2725525

24. Withington Family Cemetery
Allen, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.6960500, -96.1458700