Obituary: Erin "Ace" Karp

MADISON - Lt. Col. Erin, Ace, Karp, age 83, died on Monday, Nov. 10, 2003. He proudly served his country in World War II and participated in D-Day+1. He was a decorated hero and was awarded a Purple Heart. Additional patriotic activities included being parade marshal for Madison s Memorial Day parades, coordinating Flag Day ceremonies, serving as an officer of the Wisconsin Purple Heart, and volunteering for the Veterans Hospital and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. He returned to Madison after World War II, earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Wisconsin and became the director of youth programs for the Madison Community Center and its popular program, The Loft., After the closing of, The Loft, Ace was a special education teacher and counselor at Madison East High School. Ace was a star athlete for Madison Central High School in basketball, track and softball and was named to the all-city teams for basketball and softball. He was captain of the UW freshman basketball team and played UW varsity basketball. His shooting prowess earned him recognition as the Big 8 scoring champ. Ace loved Madison, two servings of any dessert, the gang at George s Park Street Shoe Repair, and talking with generations of Madisonians. Ace is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Yvonne Naset of Madison; son, Gary (Michaela) Karp of Paris, France; daughter, Cynthy (Ken) Mandl of Richfield, Minn.; three grandchildren, Karen, Kelsey and Dave Mandl; and sister Norma Klagos of Madison. He was preceded in death by parents, Iver and Molly (Epstein) Karp. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, 2003, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. Burial with full military honors will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may greet the family from noon until the time of the service on Friday. Cress Funeral Service 3610 Speedway Road (608) 238-3434

Originally published on the Wisconsin State Journal on November 12, 2003