BRINKMAN, Karna Helen (1931-2007)

BRINKMAN, OLSON, TULP, KAPLAN, GARVIN, NIEMI, WHITE, BARRICK

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 7/1/2013 at 12:18:20

Karna H. Brinkman, of Garner, died on Thursday, November 1, 2007, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City. She was 76 years old.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 3, at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner, with the Rev. David Graham and the Rev. Tim Diehl officiating. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Karna Helen Tulp, the daughter of Herman and Effie (Olson) Tulp, was born on January 3, 1931 at Leal, North Dakota. At an early age she moved with her family to Rowan, Iowa. Karna graduated from the Rowan High School in 1948 and continued her education at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, where she received her teaching certificate.

She later took summer classes at various colleges to earn her teaching degree in 1974. Karna taught at Klemme for four years where she met her future
husband, Garland Brinkman. On June 18, 1950 they were married at her parents' farm near Rowan. They made their home in Klemme.

Karna then took some tine off from teaching to raise her family. In 1961 they moved to Garner and Karna resumed her teaching career as an elementary teacher in the Garner-Hayfield School District until her retirement in 1992.

She enjoyed playing board games with her grandchildren, reading, golfing, watching sports and soap operas on TV, talking on the phone, wintering in McAllen, Texas, and traveling to see her family.

She was a member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, Women's Fellowship and taught Sunday School and Bible School. Karna was also a member of the Garner VFW Auxiliary, Homemakers Club and was a past Girl Scout Leader.

Karna is survived by her husband, Garland of Garner; two daughters, Valerie Brinkman-Kaplan and husband, Dr. Gordon Kaplan of Ft. Worth, Texas and Laurel Garvin of Mankato, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Ryan Niemi, Erin Niemi and
husband, Dan White and their son, Braydon, Brendan Niemi and his son, Dylan, Miranda Kaplan, Weston Garvin and Taylor Garvin; a brother, Howard Tulp and wife, Esther of Goodell; nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Brian Garvin in 1998; and her sister, Carole Barrick and husband, Harry.