Bruce’s Obituary On Saturday, March 2, 2019, E. Bruce Karner passed away at the age of 79 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Bruce always wanted to live life to the fullest. He was a free-spirited and fiercely independent man who loved a good meal, a fine scotch and the tasty waves of a waterfront to his last days.
He loved the phrase, “Life is too short” for so many reasons. Bruce was born in 1940 in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago to Ernie and Flossie Mae (Smith) Karner. He was raised above the family bakery on Belmont Avenue.
Some would say Bruce was always a true Chicagoan. He loved the city, and knew it like the back of his hand. As a youth, Belmont Avenue was his playground.
After school, Bruce often traveled down the busy Chicago street to get free admission to the last few innings of Cubs games. During summers, he and friends would bike five miles to Belmont Harbor, leap off the rocks into Lake Michigan and gaze at boats entering the harbor. It was there a lifelong love of the sun, sand and water was cultivated.
Bruce was always looking for the next adventure. While attending the University of Kansas, he and a fraternity brother accepted an offer for free ocean passage to Australia in return for work, Bruce’s in banking. In a year or so, Bruce returned to the U.S., and continued what became a long career in banking.
It was around this time in 1965, he married Barbara, and soon became the proud father of a son, Todd. Bruce’s next adventure was professional when he co-founded the executive recruiting firm, Johnson-Rankin & Associates. It remained a go-to firm for many leading Chicago and East Coast financial institutions for almost 15 years.
Then, Bruce’s dreams came true. In the early 1980s, he acquired a boat and with second wife, Janet Ficken, enjoyed weekends boating on Lake Shelbyville in central Illinois, and later, Lake Michigan. Bruce may have been a true Chicagoan, but nobody loathed Chicago winters more.
When this infringed on boating season, he and Janet set out on the next adventure. In 1990, they pulled up roots and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. They established a new home and boated to their hearts’ content.
In 1995, Bruce took his final adventure. He moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to sit by the side of the sea, where he remained for the rest of his life. Bruce was one of a kind.
He lived a simple life with little furniture, but lots of books. He was an avid reader who needed a good political discussion, a strong drink and the sea. Bruce is survived by his son, Todd Karner (Julie Babetch) and two granddaughters; his sister LaVarr (the late Norman) Redd, two nieces and a nephew, as well as former spouses, Barbara Green and Janet Ficken Karner.
A private service was held for Bruce. Well-wishers are encouraged to write a note of farewell. Share a toast and a laugh in his honor.
In his memory, we ask you put some good back in the world and make a small donation to the charity of your choice. Hug the people you love, then hug them more and more.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
