Karl Jaros

Karl Jaros, 90, resident of the Lighthouse, Cloquet, MN and formerly Duluth, passed away

peacefully on January 31, 2017 at Cloquet Memorial Hospital.

Karl was born October 8, 1926 in Celinovac, Bosnia to Mihal and Barbara Jaros. Karl married

Katharina Engart on August 23, 1947 in Marchtrenk, Austria. With the help of his maternal

grandfather, who lived in the Duluth area, he and his family immigrated to the United States in

Dec. 1951, arriving a short time later in Duluth.

Karl's love affair with a camera began when he was 13 and eventually led to him studying

photography directly after WW II ended at the Masters School of Photography in Braunschweig,

Germany. Upon his family's arrival in Duluth, Karl found employment at photography studios in

Duluth and Two Harbors, then moved to Crookston, MN, where he opened his own studio. In

1953, he joined the photography staff of the Duluth Herald & News Tribune. After nearly 29

years with the Duluth Herald & News Tribune, Karl sadly decided to retire from his position as

Chief Photographer due to a debilitating back condition but not before being recognized during

those years with 39 photo journalism awards, taking first place in numerous state, regional and

national contests. In each photo, he always tried to show "the beauty of expression" or capture

a scene that went unnoticed to the "untrained eye" using his beloved Leica cameras most of the

time. A Leica camera was often a part of his wardrobe! A major highlight of Karl's photo

journalism career was being assigned to cover President Kennedy's trip to Duluth in September

1963, less than two months before his assassination.

As his grandfather, had done for him, Karl helped many European friends and family immigrate

to the U.S. by sponsoring them and in the late 1950's and early 1960's, he succeeded in helping

his parents as well as his six sisters and brothers immigrate from communist Yugoslavia.

Karl spoke Polish, Serbo-Croatian, German, Russian and English fluently and on numerous

occasions used these skills to help friends, family and the community. His love of photography

led to teaching photography classes at various Duluth locations. Karl loved music. He greatly

enjoyed opportunities to sing and play the violin, in particular with his sisters and brothers. Karl

was a member of St. Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

Karl was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 67 years, Katharina, his parents, his sisters,

Bronhilda Miketin and Helena Drozdek as well as his grandson Kenneth Weileder.

Karl is survived by his children, Monika Weileder, Hilda Schmidt and John (Lisa) Jaros;

grandchildren, Juliana (James) Lundberg, Katherine (Zach) DeVore, John (Haddie) Schmidt,

Daniel and Elizabeth Jaros; sisters, Rosalia Jurasek and Monika Jaros; brothers, Mike and

Adam Jaros; five great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews

Visitation will be held on Saturday Feb. 4, 2017 from 9:30AM until the 10:30AM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church.

325 E. 3rd Street, Duluth, MN.  Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.  Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home.  600 E. 2nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805.  218-727-3555.