Fratzke and Jensen Funeral Homes

Karl E. Sweet

Karl Sweet, age 98, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed away Monday, November 29, 2004 at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake.

Funeral Service will be Friday, December 3, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. at the Storm Lake United Methodist Church. The family would like to invite everyone for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church before the funeral service on Friday. Burial will be in the B.V. Memorial Park Cemetery. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call anytime after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2004 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, where family will greet friends from 6-8:00 p.m.

Karl Edwin Sweet, son of Albert and Anna Heschke Sweet, was born on February 5, 1906 on the home farm in rural Storm Lake, Iowa. He attended grade school at the Lincoln Township country school and graduated from Truesdale Consolidated School in 1924. In high school he participated in sports and played the trumpet. At the age of seventeen he began farming with his mother after the passing of his dad.

Karl married Maesel Anderson on September 16, 1931 at the Methodist Parsonage in Rembrandt, Iowa. They were blessed with a daughter, Darlene. Karl and Maesel lived on the home farm for most of the 72 years of their marriage.

During his farming years he sold TVB oil and Mellow Dent seed corn. He also did custom corn shelling and hay baling for neighbors. Karl raised livestock for many years and especially enjoyed his feeder cattle.
Karl was an active member of the Truesdale United Methodist Church, serving as church treasurer for many years. Following the closing of the Truesdale church, he joined the Storm Lake United Methodist Church.

Karl was a 50-year member of the Abu Bekr Shrine Temple in Sioux City, Iowa, served on the Truesdale Elevator Board, Truesdale Consolidated School Board and was also a member of the Truesdale Farmers’ Club for many years.

Karl retired in1993 after 70 active years of farming. His interest then turned to gardening—relishing in giving his garden produce away and in canning and freezing with Maesel. Karl and Maesel enjoyed going for many rides and eating out at the surrounding restaurants. They enjoyed many winters in their home in Arizona. Karl had his garden and enjoyed his fruit trees there, too.

Preceding Karl in death were his parents, Albert and Anna Sweet; his wife Maesel on February 13, 2004; a sister, Lila Spencer, and a brother, George Sweet.

He is survived by his daughter Darlene and husband Ron Cradit of Mound, Minnesota; sisters-in-law Edith Sweet of Yuma, Arizona and Ruth Johnson of Iowa City, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Karl will always be remembered as a caring husband, a loving father, a loyal brother, a special uncle and a very dear friend.