Dakota
Christopher Karn
Dakota Christopher Karn, 14, died Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at Children’s Hospital in Omaha, surrounded by his loving family who held his hand as he entered into God’s Kingdom.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 14 at
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Father Charles Torpey and Father
Mike McDermott will officiate.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church, with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family.
Dakota was born June 24, 1997, in Cookeville, Tennessee, the son of Chris and Jeanie Karn.
Those left to cherish his memory include his parents, Chris and Jeanie; three brothers, Nicholas and Zachary Karn and Nathan Hofer; and grandfather, Peter Karn of Rapid City, South Dakota.
His memory will also be cherished by aunts and uncles, Angie and Steve Nash of Waunakee, WI, Teresa Pembroke, of Fort Worth, TX, Pat and Connie Karn of Rapid City, SD, Toby Karn of Rapid City, SD and John and Missy Shyne of Sioux Falls, SD; and too many cousins to count.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Dan and Marie Shyne and grandmother, Maureen ‘Noonie’ Karn.
From the day of his birth, Dakota was a special gift. He immediately brought his family and their friends together in a way that his family had never seen before.
It is hard to put into words how much Dakota meant to his family and friends, and how he enriched their lives. His was an unconditional love. Dakota was the constant companion of his mom and dad, who would have had it no other way. Whenever you saw Jeanie or Chris, Dakota wasn’t too far behind spreading smiles, high fives, hugs and laughs along the way. He was the best friend of his brothers, and their biggest fan. He loved them beyond description and was always talking about them. He couldn’t watch a sporting event without shouting out whenever he saw a ‘4’, “Mom, Dad, it’s Nick!” or a ‘13’, “Mom, Dad, it’s Zach!”.
Dakota believed everyone was his friend, and it may have been true. He would talk to anyone, say “hi” to anyone, and was always ready with a hug for anyone that would have one. Dakota had the great gift of never having a bad day; even when he should have, he didn’t. A day didn’t go by that he didn’t smile or laugh and make someone else smile or laugh. He made others feel better, even when he wasn’t feeling his best. He lived his life in an amazing way.
Dakota loved to go to school every day. He loved being with his friends and being a part of their lives. From Stolley Park Elementary to Barr Middle School, he had made so many friends and loved to go watch sporting events and hang out with them. Dakota was so looking forward to high school; and talked about it all of the time.
Dakota’s parents were always amazed and thankful of how well everyone treated Dakota. They were so proud of Dakota’s ability to bring out the goodness in everyone. Dakota was truly a gift to his family and all of the lives he touched. His gifts will continue in people’s hearts, minds and souls. They will continue because people have been brought together, bonds have been formed, and hopefully, people’s lives have been changed for the better. His gift of life will continue in his selfless donation of organs that have already answered the prayers of other families. Dakota will live on in them, and it is with hope, that they will continue to spread the sunshine he brought to them to the rest of the world.
Memorials are suggested to a fund that will be established in Dakota’s
memory.