Basil G. Karm, age 94 of Seguin, went peacefully to be with his Lord on October 29, 2018. Basil was born on February 24, 1924 in Uvalde, Texas to Albert E. and Fannie (Lieber) Karm. He graduated from Castroville High School, and attended San Antonio Business College and the University of Texas in Austin. At the young age of 18, Basil enlisted in the Army. He served in England, Holland, Belgium and Germany, and survived the famous Normandy, France invasion. At the end of the war, he was honorably discharged and received several distinguished medals. After his military service he worked for Retail Credit Company as Assistant Manager serving Austin, Bryan and Corpus Christi. He later entered the life insurance business as a District Agent with Lutheran Mutual Life Insurance. This is where Basil found his "calling." He loved meeting people, and traveled eighteen counties out of Seguin. He was the top salesman for many years, earning him "Texas Man of the Year", and a member of the Million Dollar Roundtable. Basil met the love of his life, Marie Mondier, while stationed at Camp Chafee in Fort Smith, Arkansas before going overseas. She was working in the "five and dime" store there and he asked her to a dance and their love story began. They were married June 24, 1946 and recently celebrated their 71st Wedding anniversary. Their love of dancing kept them traveling wherever the Big Bands were playing, and they were regulars on Friday nights at the Silver Center seen "cutting a rug!" Basil was very active in the American Legion Post 245 for all his years of membership. He served as Chaplain for 23 years and was chosen "Chaplain of the Year" for the state of Texas and "Man of the Year". He was especially honored to receive the "Legion of Honor Award" from the Four Chaplains Chapel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a very distinguished national award. He dedicated his life to helping other veterans by ministering to them and their families needs by praying, counseling, and remembering their sacrifices. He served on numerous funeral details, visited the sick in hospitals, and assisted in helping obtain headstones and markers for the veterans. His most recent and proudest accomplishment was his efforts in raising funds for the local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Texas Chapter 61 in Seguin, Tx. Basil was instrumental in selling over $10,000. in memorial bricks for veterans which were then laid at the Guadalupe County Courthouse as the beautiful Veterans Memorial. He was a Hospice Chaplain at the Guadalupe Valley Hospital for many years, a volunteer at the Christian Helping Center, a member of Toastmasters International, and served on many committees during his active church life.
Other than dancing with his lovely wife, Marie, he enjoyed cards and dominoes. He loved and enjoyed his family, grandchildren, and especially his great grandchildren. He loved the outdoors, and had a passion for fishing. He coordinated many fishing trips with his friends, keeping records of when and where he fished, what bait he used, and had many pictures to prove what was caught. He enjoyed giving the fish away to friends as much as catching them.  Survivors include his son, Ronald Karm of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter, Sharon Stollewerk of Seguin, Texas; grandchildren, Kerri Ann Noell of Phoenix, Arizona, Melissa Graves and husband Matt of Elkhorn, Nebraska, Emily Karm of Omaha, Nebraska, Brooke Karm of Casper, Wyoming, Jenna Beason and husband Kent of Tyler, Texas, Ryan Stollewerk and wife Tracy of Seguin, Texas, and Kelsey Laird and husband Sean of Flower Mound; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Margaret Ann Lyssy and husband Don, and Gladys Greene and husband Fred; numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family members and many friends. He is preceded in death by his beautiful wife Marie M. Karm, his beloved son, Randall W. Karm, his beautiful great-grandson, Lane Thomas Graves, his parents and six siblings.  Visitation will be held at Tres Hewell Mortuary on Saturday, November 3, 2018 from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church with Rev. Jim Craver officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in San Geronimo Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Ronald Karm, Ryan Stollewerk, Kent Beason, Sean Laird, James Deatherage, and Danny Herman. A reception will follow in the Life Enrichment Center. The family would like to thank Seguin Assisted Living for their kindness and support for the past two and a half years.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 1326 E. Cedar St., Seguin, Texas, 78155, the Lane Thomas Foundation, P. O. Box 540365, Omaha, Nebraska, 68154 or at www.lanethomas.org, or to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center Foundation for Hospice Services, 1215 E. Court St., Seguin, Texas, 78155.