Karber, Michael Dale (1953-1974)

Latest revision as of 15:59, 10 October 2023

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Aug 15 p. 8

Birth date: 1953 Feb 15

text of obituary:

. . .

• Michael D. Karber, 21, of Warden, Wash., a student at Tabor College, Hillsboro, was fatally injured in a construction accident at Hesston on Monday. As a summer employee of King Construction Co. at Hesston, Karber was assisting a crew with shoveling and backfilling around a foundation at Hesston Corporation when the dirt gave way and the young man was pinned between a large piece of dirt and the foundation. He was buried in the dirt at least five minutes. Doris Schmidt, industrial nurse, and Jerry Krehbiel, both employees of Hesston Corporation, administered heart massage and artificial respiration while awaiting the Newton ambulance. Karber was pronounced dead on arrival at Bethel Deaconess Hospital.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Aug 22 p. 6

text of obituary:

Newton, Kan. — Funeral services were held Friday afternoon, Aug. 16, at the Warden, Wash. Mennonite Church for Michael Dale Karber, 21, college student who died instantly in a construction accident at Hesston, Kan. on Aug. 12.

Michael, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Karber of Warden and a member of the Warden congregation, was a student at Tabor College, Hillsboro, where he was to serve a president of the student body the coming school year.

The young man, employed for the summer by a construction firm, was killed when dirt caved in on him at a construction site at the Hesston Corp.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Aug 29 p. 12

text of obituary:

Michael D. Karber, 21-year-old Tabor senior and elected student body president for the 11974-75 school year, was killed in a construction accident Aug. 12. The accident occurred in Hesston, where he was a construction company summer employee. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Karber, he was a native of Warden, Wash.

In a tribute to Karber, Clarence Hiebert, associate professor of Bible at Tabor wrote: "Mike was moving steadily toward maturity. We could see it taking place, and it was good to see, especially the way his sensitivity toward others and his awareness of god's working his life was revealed."

"He expressed the desire to live a clean life, acceptable to God. God's will was becoming more important to him. As a biology-chemistry major, he was considering a career as a medical doctor; more recently he spoke of the possibility of seminary studies in preparation for a service ministry."

"When Mike aspired to become the leader in Tabor's student government, he did so saying he wanted to be an agent of Christ in that assignment to encourage fellow students to consider their life commitment seriously."

Dr. William Johnson, professor of chemistry and chairman of the division of natural sciences at Tabor and Karber's academic adviser, attended memorial services at the Warden (Wash.) Mennonite Church on Aug. 16. A memorial chapel will be held on the Tabor campus Sept. 5 at 9:20 a.m. in the chapel-auditorium. A student scholarship fund in memory of Mike Karber has been established by the family on behalf of the college.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Oct 31 p. 11

text of obituary:

Michael Dale Karber was born on Feb. 15, 1953, at Perryton, Texas. His early years were spent on the farm near Balko, Okla.

When he was three years old the family moved to Warden, Wash. where he received his education, graduating from high school with honors in 1971. During his high school years he began developing leadership traits, working in 4-H Teen Leaders Club, serving as student body president, and as youth representative for the town's recreation center.

He enjoyed active participation in Sunday school, daily vacation Bible school, the church youth group and worship services. While attending Junior Camp at the Menno Mennonite Church the summer of 1963, he received Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He was baptized and became a member of the Warden Mennonite Church in June 1966.

Mike began his college education at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan. There he was selected by his classmates to be their student body representative during his sophomore year. Having chosen a pre-med field, he studied long, hard hours. His fellow students elected Mike to the office of student body president this spring and was looking forward to this senior year and the opportunity of working with the students and faculty.

On Monday, Aug. 12, the Lord called Mike home to be with Him through an accident while on the job. A cave-in resulted in a massive skull fracture and instant death.

Mike had a real concern for the welfare of his friends, especially their relationship to his Lord, desiring that they too might share his joy in the Lord. His most expressed desire recently was to be totally yielded to the Lord. This we feel, was accomplished when he went to be with the Lord.

He leaves to rejoice in his triumph his parents, Vernon and Edythe Karber of Warden; two sisters, Jana of the home an Jacque of Omak, Wash.; his fiancee, Brenda Vogt of Sterling, Kan.; and his grandfather, J. L. Wiens of Reedley, Calif. — The Family.