Elmer L. Karl passed away peacefully on July 15, 2026, at the age of 94 in Gregory, South Dakota. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of faith, family, entrepreneurship, community service, generosity, and love.
Elmer was born January 23, 1932, to Edward and Mary (Jamber) Karl on the family farm north of Gregory. Growing up on the farm, he learned the values that guided him throughout his life: work hard, keep your word, treat people fairly, help your neighbors, and leave things better than you found them. He attended a one-room country school and later graduated from Gregory High School.
After high school, Elmer worked on the family farm before serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. His military training in electronics changed the direction of his life. Following his service, he attended DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago and worked as a television technician before returning home to Gregory.
In 1956, Elmer founded Karl’s TV & Appliance with a small loan cosigned by his father, a knowledge of electronics, and a firm belief that customers in rural communities deserved quality products and dependable service. His business philosophy was straightforward: treat customers honestly, stand behind what you sell, and provide exceptional service after the sale.
What began as a small television sales and repair business in Gregory grew into one of the nation’s leading independent appliance and electronics retailers while remaining proudly headquartered in Gregory. Through seven decades, Karl’s became known not simply for the products it sold, but for the relationships it built with customers, employees, vendors, and the communities it served. Despite its growth, Elmer never forgot its small-town roots or the people who made its success possible.
On June 1, 1957, Elmer married Kay Joyce Snider in Gregory. To this union three children were born—Michael, Cindi, and Sandi. For the next 57 years, Kay was Elmer’s partner in marriage, family, travel, community life, and business. Together they built not only a successful company, but a family and a way of life grounded in faith, hard work, loyalty, and generosity.
Family was at the center of Elmer’s life. He was proud of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all those welcomed into the family through marriage, friendship, and love. He treasured family gatherings, followed the lives and accomplishments of each new generation, and enjoyed sharing stories from the early years of Karl’s life in Gregory.
After Kay’s unexpected passing in 2015, Elmer was blessed to find companionship and happiness again with Karen Stukel. Their marriage brought love, friendship, and an expanded family into Elmer’s later years. He warmly welcomed Karen’s children, grandchildren, and extended family into his life.
Although Elmer’s business accomplishments were considerable, he never measured success only by sales, stores, or recognition. He believed that successful businesses had an obligation to support their employees and strengthen the communities they served. Gregory was never simply where Elmer lived or operated a business—it was home.
Elmer devoted decades to public and civic service. He served two terms as Mayor of Gregory and two terms on the Gregory City Council. For more than 30 years, he was a member of the Gregory Volunteer Fire Department, giving his time to help protect the community and its residents.
He helped organize and lead Gregory’s local business development efforts and worked to create economic opportunities for the community. Elmer invested his time, leadership, and personal resources in projects that helped preserve local businesses, attract new enterprises, create jobs, and keep Gregory strong. He firmly believed that rural communities could thrive when their residents were willing to work together and invest in their future.
Elmer was an active member of Rotary and a longtime Mason. He was also a member of the El Riad Shrine and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge. Through these organizations, he formed lasting friendships and supported charitable, and community causes throughout South Dakota.
His leadership extended throughout the retail and appliance industries. Elmer served as president of the Midwest Appliance and Retail Dealers Association and as president of the South Dakota Retailers Association. He was respected by fellow retailers, manufacturers, vendors, and business associates for his experience, judgment, loyalty, and willingness to help others succeed.
Throughout his career, Elmer received numerous business, industry, and community honors recognizing both his leadership and integrity. Among them were South Dakota Retailer of the Year, the American Heritage Award from the Anti-Defamation League, South Dakota Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year, and many additional industry recognitions. He also served as President of the Midwest Appliance and Retail Dealers Association and the South Dakota Retailers Association. He considered his induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame one of the greatest honors of his life.
Although he appreciated these recognitions, Elmer never sought attention for himself. He remained approachable, practical, and grounded. Whether speaking with an industry leader, a longtime employee, a customer, or someone he had just met, he treated people with genuine interest and respect. His handshake mattered, his word could be trusted, and he rarely forgot where he came from. Those who knew him will also remember the unmistakable twinkle in his eye and his wonderful sense of humor. He always seemed to have a quick one-liner or gentle joke at the ready, using humor to put others at ease. His laughter was genuine, his wit effortless, and he had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel welcome. One of Elmer’s proudest accomplishments was helping secure the future of Karl’s TV & Appliance as an employee-owned company. He believed the employees who helped build the business deserved to share in its success. Perhaps more than anything else, Elmer wanted Karl’s to remain an independent, family-oriented company whose culture would endure long after he was gone. Employee ownership made that possible.
Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mary Karl; his sisters, Dorothy Berger and Agnes Novotny; his brother, Edwin Karl; his beloved first wife of 57 years, Kay Karl; his daughter, Cindi Nikodym; and his son-in-law, Jay Wernke.
He is survived by his loving wife, Karen Karl; his children, Michael (Joni) Karl of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and Sandi Wernke of Gregory, South Dakota; son-in-law Roger Nikodym of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and sister-in-law Ellen Sargent of California.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew (Jessica) Nikodym of St. Cloud, Minnesota; Ariann (Dan) Lenihan of Omaha, Nebraska; Adam (Joni) Nikodym of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Abby Mock of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Andrew (Kelsey) Karl of Maple Grove, Minnesota; and Shane (Taylor), and Dane Wernke of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Elmer’s eleven cherished greatgrandchildren are Jackson, Derek, and Ryan Nikodym; James, Josie, and Katherine Lenihan; Henry, Harvey, and Leni Nikodym; and Isaac and Addi Karl.
He is also survived by foreign exchange daughter Annelie Strath of Sweden; Karen’s children and their families, Cal (Ann) Stukel and family, Kimberly (Allen) Veskrna and family, and Kurt (Kellie) Stukel and family; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, treasured friends, loyal customers, business associates, and generations of Karl’s employees and employee-owners.
While his passing leaves an immeasurable void for his family, friends, employees, and community, his example will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy lives on through his family, the employee-owners of Karl’s TV & Appliance, the community of Gregory, and the countless lives he touched through nearly a century of faith, service, generosity, leadership, humor, love, and quiet example.
In lieu of flower, memorials may be sent to the Gregory Community Foundation Pool Project, Gregory United Methodist Church, or the Shriners Children’s c/o El Riad Shrine Sioux Falls SD.
Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
