Daniel J. Karlen
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Daniel Jay Karlen, age 55 of Monticello, died peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2015, at his home in Monticello. Dan was born November 13, 1959, in Monroe, the son of Lawrence and Marian B. (Trumpy) Karlen.
He graduated from Monticello High School in 1978 and UW-Madison with a degree in Soil Science in 1982. He married Nancy Smith on July 23, 1983, in New Berlin. Dan was a lifelong farmer who was raised and presently farmed on the Karlen home farm in Mount Pleasant Township. He was a member of the Zwingli United Church of Christ, Monroe Moose Lodge, Monticello FFA Alumni, past Green County Board member, Boy Scout leader, and Green County Harmony Chorus member. He served as Mount Pleasant Town Clerk for several years, participated in the UW Extension Rural Leadership Program from 1998-2000, and was an active member of the Monticello Lions Club, in which he coordinated the vision screening program for many years. He was awarded the Birch-Sturm Fellowship and Melvin Jones Fellow awards for his dedicated Lions Club service. Dan loved his family and was very proud of his children and grandson, but he also had a love of farming. He enjoyed bowling, hunting, and riding his Harley.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Karlen of Monticello; a son, Jacob Daniel Karlen (Jennifer Wroblewski), both of Madison; a daughter, Dana M. (Matthew) Brandl of Clinton, WI; a grandson, Maxen Jay Brandl of Clinton; his mother, Marian Karlen of Monroe; two brothers, Douglas (Lin) Karlen of Polk City, Iowa, and Darcy (Donna) Karlen of Olathe, KS; sister-in-law, Peggy (Mark) Jones; and father-in-law, Charles C.L. Smith, all of French Lick, IN.
He was preceded in death by his father; and mother-in-law, Bonnie Jo Smith.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., at the Zwingli United Church of Christ, Monticello, with Revs. Jeannie Douglas and Mary Gafner officiating.
Visitation was held on Monday, August 3, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., at the Zwingli UCC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in Dan's name to Wisconsin Lions Camp, Monticello FFA Alumni, or the charity of one's choice.
The Voegeli-Newcomer Funeral Home, Monticello, is assisting the family.
