Imogene Karjala

GALVA – Imogene “Mimmer” Karjala, 89, of Galva, died at 6:53 p.m., Friday, February 5, 2021 at her home.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 13 at the Bishop Hill Community Methodist Church with Revs. Chet Travis and Karen Martin officiating. Burial will follow in Bishop Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Henry County Humane Society. Rux Funeral Home in Galva is in charge of arrangements.

She was born November 21, 1931 in Seneca, IL, the youngest of James and Lena (McDonald) Wheeler’s eight children. She married the Rev. Robert R. Karjala on June 4, 1954 in Minneapolis, MN and he preceded her in death on May 11, 2013. Survivors include her son, Paul Karjala of Port Byron, IL, her three daughters; Rebecca Karjala and her partner John Bushno of East Moline, Sarah (Ladd) Lanford of La Canada, CA, and Debbie (Matt) Simaytis of Port Byron, IL, a sister, Lavona “Dickie” Blood of Marseilles, IL, two daughters-in-law, Laura Hayes and Sara Gullstrand Karjala and four grandchildren; Sam Karjala, Lena Karjala, Joe Karjala and Corina Lanford. She was also preceded in death by her parents, son, Stephen “Steve” Karjala and six brothers, Hubert, Donald, Eddie, Kermit, Robert and Orvan.

Imogene attended Wesley Bible College in Minneapolis, MN. She was a minister’s wife and had worked at Dixline Corporation. She was a member of and the church organist at the Bishop Hill Community Methodist Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Galva for many years and had also played for weddings and funerals.

She was a gracious, kind woman with a very strong faith who could play several different musical instruments. She had a love for animals and enjoyed playing tennis, doing missionary work and feeding the birds and squirrels. She also had a love for gardening flowers and vegetables which she learned from her mother and was able to pass down to her children. This obituary may be viewed and private condolences left at www.ruxfuneralhome.com.

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