Online Obituaries Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 2002 obituaries    2001 obituaries 2000 obituaries    1999 obituaries The Journal Online   Experience New Ulm Click here for today's obituaries    Karen Royer, 58, of Hanska, died Thursday evening, November 14, 2002 of pancreatic cancer at her home in rural Hanska.    Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanska, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.    Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, and 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Monday at Schmucker Funeral Service in Hanska, and one hour prior to services at the church.    Karen was born Nov. 30, 1943 to Norman and Ruth (Rathmann) Dahl in Marinette, Wis. She attended schools in Peshtigo, Wis., and upper Michigan, graduating from Marinette High School in 1961. She attended Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm and received a BS in Elementary Education from Mankato State University in 1969 and a MS in Curriculum and Instruction in 1979 from St. Scholastica's in Duluth.    Karen started her teaching career at St. John's Lutheran School in Fairfax. She taught in District #88 schools for 30 years, both at Washington Elementary and Hanska Elementary, serving on many district committees and representing Hanska Elementary on the NUEA executive board. She left District #88 to serve as director and teacher at Hanska Community School until retirement in June, 2001. She was named to the 2001 edition of Who's Who of Professional Educators. Upon her retirement she worked with her husband in running Royer Raspberry Farm which opened in the fall of 2001.    Karen was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church of Hanska. She served as a Sunday School teacher and first Communion teacher as well as holding a variety of offices for the church and parish during her life. She was involved in the community of Hanska, serving as president of the Library Board and taking part in the annual Syttende Mai shows. The Hanska Business Association named her one of the volunteers of the year in 1997 and Woman of All Seasons in 1999. She served three terms as a member of the Brown County Library Board. She belonged to EdVisions co-operative, serving as secretary during her last year as a full-time educator. She has been a member of the Smile and Traverse de Sioux Boards and the Socrates Board.    Karen loved football, cheering for her home state Packers as well as the Vikings. She also enjoyed reading, music, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, embroidery, playing cards, and thrift store shopping with her daughters. She was especially pleased to have been influential in the formation of both Hanska Community Library and Hanska Community School because of their value to the education of children in her community.    Karen married Orville Royer December 14, 1965. He survives along with daughters Cora Hjelseth and her husband Jeremy of Mapleton, N.D., and Ida Royer and her special friend Nathan Bean of Seattle, Wash.; stepchildren Radburn Royer and his wife Tina of Pequot Lakes, MN, Denise Christensen and fiancee Greg Armbruster of Minneapolis, and Ross Royer and his wife Barb of Truman, MN; 9 grandchildren; 2 great granddaughters. Also surviving are her brother David Dahl and his wife Mary of Appleton, WI, sisters Lynn Faber of West Allis, WI, Nancy Olson of Milwaukee, and Susan Sowatzke and her husband Bryon of Waukesha, WI, and sister-in-law Linda Dahl of Battle Creek, Michigan; brother-in-law Lyle Royer and his wife Marla of New Ulm, sisters-in-law Geneva Gluth of Phoenix, AZ, Doris Barker and her husband Calvin of Jeffers, and Elaine Barnes of Redwood Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Michael Dahl, who died in January, 2002 also of pancreatic cancer.    Bernard Fischer, 70, of Sleepy Eye, formerly of Springfield, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002 at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis.    Arrangements are pending with Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield.    Louis "Jim" James Brown, 84, of Sleepy Eye, died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 at his home.    Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Sleepy Eye, with burial in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Olivia.    Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Sunday and 7:30-10 a.m. Monday at Sturm Funeral Home. A parish prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.    He is survived by his wife, Kathleen McFarland Brown of Sleepy Eye; daughters, Marsha Duval of Atlanta, Ga., Ruth Kelly of Shakopee; a son, Jim of Portland, Ore.; 11 grandchildren; a sister, Mary Hoff of Maple Grove; and many nieces and nephews.    He was born May 13, 1918 in Knieram, Iowa to John E. and Susanna May Brown. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and the Korean War.    Marion Lynch, 90, of Arlington, died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002 at the Sibley Medical Center, Arlington.    Arrangements are pending with the Kolden Funeral Home, Arlington.