James "Jim" Raymond Karl, 63, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 11, 2015, surrounded by his family at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester, MN, following a short, courageous battle with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Jim was born on June 28th, 1952, in Heron Lake, MN, to the late Raymond and Bonnie Karl.  He graduated from Worthington High School in 1970 and Worthington Junior College in 1972.  He then attended Southwest State in Marshall, MN, until he left college to join his parents in Worthington to open General Trading Company in 1973.  His brother Chuck joined the family business 1 year later.  Jim and Patricia (Pat) Dammer were united in marriage on November 29, 1975.  Pat and Chuck's wife, Janet, joined the family business too.  Together, with Jim's mother Bonnie, they continued the business which is known today as Karl's CARQUEST Auto Parts; expanding to three stores with locations in Worthington, Albert Lea, and Jackson.
Jim had several hobbies but his first passion was cars.  Over his lifetime, he rebuilt 198 cars consisting of all makes and models.  His next project was to convert his 1929 Hudson Essex with a rumble seat into a street rod. Jim was also an avid golfer and enjoyed playing in men's league at the Worthington Country Club where he had been a member for the last 50 years and served a term as club President.  He was active in King Turkey Day for many years and had the opportunity to represent Worthington in Cuero, Texas, as a race team member. In Jim's earlier years he served on the First United Methodist Church finance committee, the City Park board, the Chamber board, and was a member of the Southwest Minnesota Street Rodders Association.
Jim was known by many for his knowledge and expertise in the automotive industry and had a keen eye for matching paint on cars, trucks and farm machinery.  As a company, Karl's CARQUEST Auto Parts received many awards and much recognition for their sales in truck and auto parts.  He was very dedicated and passionate about the business and enjoyed serving his many customers and visiting with them.  His one liners, infectious sense of humor, and first-class customer service left a footprint with many.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Pat; his daughters Jackie (Brian) Seifert, Rochester; Krista (Josh) Brassfield, Green Bay; grandchildren Michael Seifert and Stella Brassfield; brother Chuck (Janet) Karl, Albert Lea, father-in-law John Dammer, Worthington; brother-in-laws Larry (Kay) Dammer, Cannon Falls; Ron (Joyce) Dammer, Mountain Lake;  and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents and mother-in-law, Helen Dammer.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all of Jim's caregivers, especially the nurses at the infusion room in Fairmont, the staff at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, and Dr. Singh.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 16, 2015, from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, MN; and will continue on Thursday, December 17, 2015, from 10 am to 11 am at the Church.
The memorial service will be Thursday, December 17, 2015, at 11 am at the First United Methodist Church in Worthington, MN, with Rev. Dr. Daren Flinck officiating.
To view an online obituary, sign a virtual register book, or order flowers, please visit www.dingmannandsons.com.

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