Ronald Ewell Karber, 82, of New Athens, IL, born May 9, 1930 in Belleville, IL died Saturday, October 6, 2012 at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL Ron was a retired pharmacist and a member of the St. Louis College of Pharmacy Alumni Association. He was a member of St. John United Church of Christ, New Athens, IL. Ron was a Korean War veteran. He was on the founding board of the New Athens District Library and served for 40 years. He was Past Commander of the American Legion Post 565, Life member of VFW Post 7710, Master Mason of Freeburg Masonic Lodge 418 and past president of the New Athens Lions Club.
He loved to fish and hunt and play cards with his friends.
Mr. Karber was preceded in death by his parents, Henry A. and Leona (Sebastian) Karber.
Surviving him are his wife Marilyn (Eicker) Karber whom he married on March 12, 1955 in New Athens, IL; 2 daughters, Paula L. (Joseph) Swierczek and Renee L. (Charles) Turner and 2 grandchildren, Mackenzie and Donovan Turner.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to be made to St. John United Church of Christ or to The New Athens Home for the Aged.
Visitation: Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in New Athens, IL and from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church on Wednesday, October 10, 2012. A Masonic ritual will be held Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral: Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at St. John United Church of Christ in New Athens, IL with the Rev. Dr. Robert Koch officiating. Entombment will be at Valhalla Gardens Mausoleum in Belleville, IL
Heil-Schuessler Funeral Home in New Athens, IL is in charge of arrangements.
I’m so sorry to read of Ron’s passing. I knew him from the drug store, and I served with him on the library board. He was a fine man and a wonderful public servant. Regards to Marilyn and the rest of the family.
Posted by: Julia Bilgere – Shiloh, IL – acquaintance Oct 09, 2012
ReplyMy sympathy to Marilyn, Paula, Renee and families. We all have the best Drug Store memories, from the soda fountain for sure. My dad would take our children there at a young age. And the baseball cards they sold, wish we would have kept all of them. . The daily drawings we would go to sign up for, then stop at the soda fountain. New Athens isn’t the same without it. Blessings to you all, Dorothy Hacker
Posted by: Dorothy Hacker – New AThens, IL Oct 09, 2012
ReplyMy sympathy to Marilyn, Paula, Renee and families. We all have the best Drug Store memories, from the soda fountain for sure. My dad would take our children there at a young age. And the baseball cards they sold, wish we would have kept all of them. . The daily drawings we would go to sign up for, then stop at the soda fountain. New Athens isn’t the same without it. Blessings to you all, Dorothy Hacker7G2Br
Posted by: Dorothy Hacker – New AThens, IL Oct 09, 2012
ReplyDear Marilyn and girls,
I am so sad to hear of Ron’s passing and I am so sorry for your loss.
Ron Karber was and is today a giant in my life. What I learned from him became the barometer for knowing whether my efforts as a professional and person really have value. Had it not been for Ron and his influence on my life, I might have been stuck in a place and position where my gifts, talents and desires would not have been realized. Simply stated, I owe much of what I am to him and my humble beginnings as a student working in Karber Pharmacy.
I pray that God’s peace will comfort each of you and your family in this time of loss and I know that today, Ron is in Paradise and waiting for us all to join him in God’s time. Stay strong and believe.
With much love and admiration,
Greg Kearns
Posted by: Dr. Gregory Kearns – Platte City, MO – former employee and student Oct 09, 2012
ReplyRon Karber was my mentor, guide and friend. As a young high-school student who first was in need of a job, he gave me one. Then, Ron did the most important thing. He showed me how a Pharmacist really was a valued and valuable health care professional and a leader in his community. Balancing a decision to choose a career in Medicine vs. Pharmacy, it was the influence of Ron Karber that moved me to choose that latter. I will never regret this and to this day, owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for helping me to make the best choice. His influence as a professional and trusted mentor guides me to this day.
Thank you Ron for being a shining example of what it means to care for another and to ever advance knowledge and action for the good of your fellow man. I will always miss and remember you.
Greg
Gregory L. Kearns, B.S.(Pharm.), Pharm.D., Ph.D., R.Ph.
Marion Merrell Dow / Missouri Chair in Pediatric Pharmacology
Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Missouri
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Associate Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Chief Scientific Officer and Chair, Research Development
The Children’s Mercy Hospital
Kansas City, MO
Posted by: Dr. Gregory Kearns – Platte City, MO – former employee and student Oct 09, 2012
ReplyMarilyn:
Accept Clara and I’s sympathy.
I have many memories of working with Ron at the pharmacy.
Harold Wolf
Posted by: Harold Wolf – Naples, FL – Friend Oct 09, 2012
ReplyMy sympathy to you all. Thanks to Ron and his famly for giving the people of New Athens a great store full of friendly faces and happy memories for all of us who grew up there. He won’t be forgotten.
Posted by: Jeanne (Hacker) Jansen – Fairview Heights, IL Oct 08, 2012
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My sympathy to you all. Thanks to Ron and his famly for giving the people of New Athens a great store full of friendly faces and happy memories for all of us who grew up there. He won’t be forgotten.
Posted by: Jeanne (Hacker) Jansen – Fairview Heights, IL Oct 08, 2012
Marilyn:
Accept Clara and I’s sympathy.
I have many memories of working with Ron at the pharmacy.
Harold Wolf
Posted by: Harold Wolf – Naples, FL – Friend Oct 09, 2012
Ron Karber was my mentor, guide and friend. As a young high-school student who first was in need of a job, he gave me one. Then, Ron did the most important thing. He showed me how a Pharmacist really was a valued and valuable health care professional and a leader in his community. Balancing a decision to choose a career in Medicine vs. Pharmacy, it was the influence of Ron Karber that moved me to choose that latter. I will never regret this and to this day, owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for helping me to make the best choice. His influence as a professional and trusted mentor guides me to this day.
Thank you Ron for being a shining example of what it means to care for another and to ever advance knowledge and action for the good of your fellow man. I will always miss and remember you.
Greg
Gregory L. Kearns, B.S.(Pharm.), Pharm.D., Ph.D., R.Ph.
Marion Merrell Dow / Missouri Chair in Pediatric Pharmacology
Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Missouri
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Associate Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Chief Scientific Officer and Chair, Research Development
The Children’s Mercy Hospital
Kansas City, MO
Posted by: Dr. Gregory Kearns – Platte City, MO – former employee and student Oct 09, 2012
Dear Marilyn and girls,
I am so sad to hear of Ron’s passing and I am so sorry for your loss.
Ron Karber was and is today a giant in my life. What I learned from him became the barometer for knowing whether my efforts as a professional and person really have value. Had it not been for Ron and his influence on my life, I might have been stuck in a place and position where my gifts, talents and desires would not have been realized. Simply stated, I owe much of what I am to him and my humble beginnings as a student working in Karber Pharmacy.
I pray that God’s peace will comfort each of you and your family in this time of loss and I know that today, Ron is in Paradise and waiting for us all to join him in God’s time. Stay strong and believe.
With much love and admiration,
Greg Kearns
Posted by: Dr. Gregory Kearns – Platte City, MO – former employee and student Oct 09, 2012
My sympathy to Marilyn, Paula, Renee and families. We all have the best Drug Store memories, from the soda fountain for sure. My dad would take our children there at a young age. And the baseball cards they sold, wish we would have kept all of them. . The daily drawings we would go to sign up for, then stop at the soda fountain. New Athens isn’t the same without it. Blessings to you all, Dorothy Hacker7G2Br
Posted by: Dorothy Hacker – New AThens, IL Oct 09, 2012
My sympathy to Marilyn, Paula, Renee and families. We all have the best Drug Store memories, from the soda fountain for sure. My dad would take our children there at a young age. And the baseball cards they sold, wish we would have kept all of them. . The daily drawings we would go to sign up for, then stop at the soda fountain. New Athens isn’t the same without it. Blessings to you all, Dorothy Hacker
Posted by: Dorothy Hacker – New AThens, IL Oct 09, 2012
I’m so sorry to read of Ron’s passing. I knew him from the drug store, and I served with him on the library board. He was a fine man and a wonderful public servant. Regards to Marilyn and the rest of the family.
Posted by: Julia Bilgere – Shiloh, IL – acquaintance Oct 09, 2012