Deane Karli obit

With gratitude for a life well lived, we celebrate Deane Harold Karli, age 74, of Lake City, formerly of Winona, Minnesota, who passed away peacefully on September 26, 2026, at St Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by his wife and daughters.
Deane was born on October 13, 1951, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, to Harold and Clara Karli. He was raised in Mabel, Minnesota, and graduated from Mabel-Canton High School in 1969. After high school, he attended Southwestern Technical College and enlisted in the United States Navy.
On August 25, 1984, he married Pamela Green, and Vanessa and Danica were born of that union. They later divorced. On August 15, 2020, he married his longtime girlfriend, Linda Eisterhold. In Lake City, Deane and Linda built a vibrant chapter of life together and became active volunteers with Lake City Area Arts, the Frontenac State Park Association, and the Wabasha County DFL.
Deane’s work life reflected both skill and determination. He held several construction jobs before working at Winona State College. He later returned to school and earned a degree from UW-Stout, planning to teach construction electric. However, he joined the electrical union, IBEW 343, taking assignments in the area, including Prairie Island Nuclear Plant.
Some of Deane’s happiest moments were spent outdoors. He loved gardening, especially planting native species. As a Master Naturalist, he enjoyed hiking and monitoring trails at Frontenac State Park.
Deane is survived by his wife, Linda Eisterhold-Karli; his daughters, Vanessa (Lowell Jr.) Johnson of Stanley, North Dakota, and Danica (Jon) Bambenek of Winona, Minnesota; his grandson, Lowell Dean Johnson; his sister, Ruth Karli of Decorah, Iowa; and his nephew, Lief Czaplewski. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Tomas Czaplewski. A celebration of life will be held in the spring, or as Deane called it, “a thousand shades of green.”