Karin Zahnow

Karin Ann Zahnow, 71, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, September 21, 2013, at Vibra Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

She was born January 6, 1942, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the daughter of Willard and Alice (Schulz) Beske. She worked many long hours alongside her father, mother and siblings on the family farm. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1960.

On June 18, 1961, she was united in marriage to Eugene Zahnow. They made their home in Fergus Falls where she worked at D.B. Rosenblatts as a seamstress.

After her husband’s death in 1976, she worked hard to raise and provide for her three children. She enrolled in classes at the Fergus Falls Community College where she earned her LPN degree. She began working at Lake Region Hospital until a few years later when she chose to further her career. She enrolled at St. Luke’s School of Nursing in the RN program while continuing to work at Lake Region Hospital. After a work injury, she started working for Otter Tail County Public Health as a home care nurse. At that point in her career, she decided to pursue her dream of obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. She graduated from Moorhead State University in August of 1992.

She was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She volunteered many hours and served as their Parish Nurse. Her career of nursing was very important to her. She formed and led multiple Fibromyalgia Support Groups in the lakes area.

Karin’s family remembers how she loved to play the piano and would often play with her husband for the family after their evening meal. Another passion of Karin’s was sewing and quilting. She was a very talented seamstress. Her children have memories of many clothes being handmade growing up. Her heart was poured into making many gifts for family and friends. Her last project was a quilt for her brand new great-granddaughter.

Preceding her in death were her husband, parents, and grandparents.

Survivors include her three children: Mike (Lisa) Zahnow, Lori (Don) Viger, and Becky (Tim) Barth; grandchildren: Michaela and Madelyn Zahnow, Alyssa (Viger) Erickson and husband Craig, Derick, Ryan and Lucas Viger, Katie Minge, and Tyler, Tucker and Tanner Barth; great-granddaughter, Paige Erickson; and her siblings: Mardell Gustafson, Lynette Starin, Cheryl (Ron) Hegerle, and Wesley (Lori) Beske.

She will be greatly missed.

Visitation: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church
Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, September 26, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Curtis Deterding and Reverend Roger Lange
Interment: Knollwood Memorial Gardens in Fergus Falls
Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls is in charge of the arrangements.