Minnie E. Karr, formerly of Perrysburg, Ohio, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2021, with her granddaughter, Erica, by her side. She lived the last year of her life at Central Montana Nursing and Rehabilitation, due to failing health and with the isolation of COVID-19 restrictions.
Minnie was born in Rio Grande City, Texas, on September 11, 1934, to Lee and Josephine (Garza) Hamel, an only child. Her father was a career Army veteran, moving his small family many times in her young life. After his retirement, the family settled in Corning, New York, where Minnie graduated from Northside High School. She worked for a lawyer before meeting her future husband, Norman Soldwish. The couple married in July 1956. Her first daughter, Patricia, was born on an Air Force base in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada. The couple returned to Perrysburg, where three sons followed, Norman Jr., Michael and Jeffrey. The couple later divorced.
Minnie worked briefly for Broske’s Restaurant and found her career at Hunt-Wesson foods in the purchasing department. She loved taking Hunt’s products to the nuns and priests at St. Rose and gave out Snack Pack puddings to trick-or-treaters at Halloween.
She later met and married her second husband, Robert Karr, from Perrysburg. Minnie retired from Hunt-Wesson Foods and enjoyed spending time with her husband. She also enjoyed her grandchildren, NASCAR, Fox News and her dogs, Jake, Mocha, Little Man and Brenner. She was a picky eater, but loved toast with her butter, Milky Ways, and Hershey syrup on chocolate ice cream. Minnie was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church.
Following the deaths of her son, Michael, on October 29, 2011, and her husband, Bob, on November 5, 2011, Minnie had the greatest adventure of her life. She moved across country to Wyoming to live with her daughter. She enjoyed a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, day trips to Yellowstone National Park and visits to Montana, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. She later moved to Powell, Wyoming, where she met many friends at the Rocky Mountain Manor. Her last couple years were spent in Lewistown, Montana, near her first-born granddaughter, Erica Freed, and her family. Minnie loved the adventure of the wild west.
Minnie is survived by her daughter, Patricia (Andy) Marshinsky, Kemmerer, Wyoming; son, Norman (Katie) Soldwish Jr., Perrysburg, and son, Jeffrey (Cheryl Wendt) Soldwish, Toledo; grandchildren, Erica (Lyle) Freed, Laura (Neil) Arcuri, Allen (Cara) Kopp, Andrew Kopp, Shaun Kopp, Brandi (Kyle) Taylor, Cassandra (Justin) Nickey and Courtney (Matthew) Wellman, 22 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren. A special thanks to Dama Paden, who loved and supported Minnie during her stay at the care center and in her final moments. Burial will be in St. Rose
Burial will be in St. Rose Catholic Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Rocky Mountain Manor, 140 N. Cheyenne Drive, Powell, Wyoming 82435 or to St. Rose Catholic Church, 215 East Front Street, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.