Philip John Karis was born in Norwalk, Wisconsin on December 20, 1909 the son of John and Clara (Miller) Karis. He grew up in Wisconsin and on April 17, 1934 he was united in marriage to Norma Alice Beyer and together they had three children. He started farming in 1942 and purchased his own farm in 1946 milking with a gas engine running the milking equipment. In 1947 they got electricity to the farm. He farmed in Lincoln Township until 1977. Much of the time he was farming he also worked as a custodian at the Amery School. He was a custodian until 1974, but still helped them in the summer months mowing the school grounds for several more years. Phil enjoyed going to car races and going for plane rides in the area. When he left the farm they moved into Amery. Sitting down for a lively game of Farkel, a dice game, was always something he looked forward to. He lived independently until July of 2011 when he moved to Golden Age Manor where he died on December 28, 2012 at the age of 103 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Norma, three sisters and two brothers. Left to mourn are his sons: Gary (Kathleen) Karis, and Doug (Donna) Karis; daughter Betty (Jerry) Strohbeen; one brother Adolph Karis; eight grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, five great great grandchildren as well as other relatives and friends.


Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at East Lincoln Alliance Church in rural Amery. There will be visitation for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the East Lincoln Cemetery.