Obituary of Karl G Zahn

Dr. Karl G. Zahn, 85, passed away March 3, 2015, at home. He was born on Feb. 13, 1930, in Theresa, Wis., the son of Paul and Elsie Zahn. He treasured education and enjoyed athletics his entire life. At Juneau High School he loved all his classes and teachers and as an athlete, he dreamed of becoming a coach. He went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dodge County Normal School in Mayville, Wis., and Whitewater State Teachers College (1955). His first teaching position was instructing 42 children in a one-room rural schoolhouse. He married Doris Schindel on February 16, 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53 in Japan during the Korean War. Later, he and Doris embarked on the adventure of a lifetime by moving to China Lake, California, to teach at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station. They returned to Wisconsin every summer while he earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1959) and continued on to receive his doctorate in education at the University of Colorado-Boulder (1965). He accepted a position as a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W), where he spent his entire career. He taught in the School of Education with an emphasis in math education; supervised student teachers; and served as principal of Roseman Elementary Laboratory School on campus. He retired as professor emeritus in 1990. He continued his passion for following Warhawk athletic teams, traveling near and far for football, basketball and baseball games. One of his proudest moments was being inducted along with Doris into the UW-W Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006, in recognition of their enthusiasm and support. He always enjoyed attending the baseball team's spring training in Florida and Arizona. His other passions were his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly and visited frequently; traveling the world via cruise ships; and his devout Christian faith. In recent years, he was a member of Triune Lutheran Church, Sharon, Wis. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Doris; daughters Laura Pohl (J. Peter) and Karla Zahn (Andrew Ketterhagen); grandchildren Nicholas Pohl (Justyna), Erica Pohl and Harper Westfall; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Caroline Goodenough, brothers William "Bill" and Elmer Zahn, and his beloved granddaughter Elli Westfall. A burial service will be private and a celebration of Karl's life will be held in late May. Memorials may be sent to the UW-Whitewater Karl and Doris Zahn Scholarship, Triune Lutheran Church or Rainbow Hospice. Visit, www.schneidermichaelisfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence or light a candle in his memory.