A Celebration of Life Service for Karla J. Schwanz, 67, of St. James will be 11 a.m. Monday, November 14, 2022, at Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James with Pastor Mandy France officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in St. James.
 Karla was called to her eternal rest on Saturday afternoon, November 5, 2022, at her home in St. James. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Monday, November 14, 2022, until 11 a.m at the Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James.
 Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.kramerfuneralhome.com.
 Karla’s funeral service will be livestreamed on AES Ministries Facebook page.
 Karla Jean Schaefer was born on August 15, 1955, to David and Marlene (Cook) Schaefer at Triumph. She lived with her family in Sherburn, then moved to Mercedes, Texas then Via Del Carmen, Mexico until moving to Blue Earth. In 1971 she moved with her family to Crockett, Texas until moving to Ormsby in 1972. She received her education in St. James and graduated with the class of 1974. Karla attended South Central Technical College and graduated in 1997 as a licensed practical nurse. Karla was employed as a licensed practical nurse at the St. James Hospital for 25 years until her retirement in 2016. On April 2, 1977, she was united in marriage to Gary Schwanz at Covenant Church in Trimont. After their marriage they made their home in St. James and raised their family. Karla was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James. She enjoyed going camping, gardening, spending time with her kids and grandchildren. She was not afraid to try her hand at new things. She enjoyed spending time and traveling with her brothers and sisters and had a close friendships with her ladies camping crew.
 She is survived by her two sons, Michael (Brooke) Schwanz of Bloomington, and Daron Schwanz of St. James; two grandchildren, Oliver and Fiona; mother, Marlene Ann Schaefer of Raeford, N.C.; brothers and sisters, Steven Schaefer of Cedar Park, Texas, Carol (Mark) Johnson of Raeford, Don Schaefer of Edgemont, S.D., Carol Schaefer of North Plymouth, and twin sister, Karen (Colin) Brown of Fort Dodge, Iowa; sister-in-law, Jeanne Schwanz of Jamestown, N.D.; nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends.
 Karla was preceded in death by her father, David Schaefer; husband, Gary Schwanz on March 14, 2022; grandparents, Frederick and Lillie (Heinrich) Schaefer and Arnold and Bertha (Wolford) Cook; father- and mother-in-law, Martin and Doris Schwanz; sisters-in-law, Ann Marie Schaefer and Carol Schaefer; brother-in-law, Gerald Schwanz; sister, Ann Marie Schaefer and other relatives.