Karl A Adolphson

Mankato Mortuary
1001 North Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202

Karl Adolph Adolphson, age 91 of Mankato, died Monday, March 5, 2012 at Pathstone Living in Mankato.
Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2012 at Grace Lutheran Church 320 East Main Street in Mankato. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in St. Peter. Memorials may be given to the donor's choice. Arrangements are with Mankato Mortuary.
Karl was born March 30, 1920 to Andrew J. and Nancy (Herberg) Adolphson in St. Peter. He graduated from St. Peter High School in 1938. Karl graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, in 1942 and Mankato State University with his master's degree in 1959. He served his country with the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II. Karl was united in marriage to Dorothy Mary Boyer on June 22, 1946 in Minneapolis. He began his teaching career shortly after the war in Cleveland, Minnesota, where he was also the principal. He taught history and social studies with the Mankato School District #77 (mainly Mankato High School, now West) for 37 years, retiring in 1983. He also coached tennis.
Karl and Dorothy were part of the so-called Greatest Generation, meeting at Gustavus during the tumult of the war years. They raised three sons in Mankato, sharing with them Davy Crockett, Zorro, piano lessons, fishing trips "Up North," and family trips around the USA. Karl was a legendary teacher at Mankato (West) High School, known for his vast knowledge, sense of humor, and genuine interest in his students. During retirement he and Dorothy made a grand tour of Europe, where he could finally see the places he had talked about in class all those years. They also traveled to Australia and made frequent trips to visit relatives in Sweden. Karl was always proud of his Swedish heritage and successfully passed this on to his sons, with the exception of his love for lutefisk. He loved to listen to music, from bluegrass to show tunes to opera, and he was an avid follower of sports. Karl was devoted to Dorothy and immensely proud of his sons. Whenever they returned home to Mankato he was filled with joy to see them and his grandchildren.
Karl is survived by those sons, John (Kathleen Weinstein Adolphson) Adolphson of Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico, Erik Adolphson of St. Louis Park, and Thomas (Qingxia Li) Adolphson of Wilmette, IL; three grandchildren, Andrew Adolphson, Kari Adolphson, and Luke Adolphson Yourzak; sister-in-law, Sophie Adolphson of St. Peter; also nieces and nephews.
Karl was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dorothy on March 3, 2011; nine siblings.