- Date Of Birth: October 10, 1938
- Date Of Death: June 15, 2017
- State: Nebraska
A longtime supporter of the arts and the Norfolk community, Karla Huse died Thursday at the age of 78.
She died Thursday, June 15, 2017, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after a brief illness.
After her marriage in 1957 to Jerry Huse, president of the Norfolk Daily News, she devoted considerable time to supporting — largely behind the scenes and without seeking any fanfare — numerous organizations and projects in Norfolk.
Karla was a founding director of the Norfolk Arts Center in 1978 and later served as its president, secretary and treasurer over a period of several years. She continued to be a supporter of the arts in a variety of ways, both locally and on the state level.
Jerry and Karla Huse provided considerable leadership and financial support to a host of community endeavors over the years, including the Norfolk Arts Center, Elkhorn Valley Museum, Norfolk Family YMCA, local hospital building projects and Northeast Community College.
Karla Amelia Schnurr was born Oct. 10, 1938, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Andrew and Aldene (Parsons) Schnurr. She graduated from Fort Dodge High School and attended Lindenwood College for Women in St. Charles, Mo.
She was married to Eugene “Jerry” Huse Jr., on Dec. 30, 1957, at St. Mark’s Church in Fort Dodge. To this union were born two children, William and Mary Elizabeth.
Karla was actively involved in the CU Chapter of PEO in Norfolk, serving as the chapter’s president for two terms. She also served as committee chairwoman of the state Cottey College Grant Fund, which is a national project of the PEO organization.
Being part of a sewing club, a wine and food club and numerous book clubs, both in Norfolk and Iowa, were among Karla’s favorite pastimes.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Elizabeth Schwartz and Gretchen Stader; and a brother-in-law, Robert Stader.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry; a son, William, and his wife, Ann, of Peachtree City, Ga., a daughter, Mary Elizabeth and her husband, Brad, of Arnold, Md.; grandchildren Taylor, Hanna, Abigail, Maria and Bertila Huse; and Jeremiah Olsen and his wife, Macarena, Benjamin Olsen and his wife, Libbie, Holly Olsen and her fiancé, Matt Potter, and Andrew “Dawson” Olsen; and a brother-in-law, Lou Schwartz of California.
