Karla Lapinski
Karla Lapinski
Karla Lapinski went to be with our Heavenly Father after a sudden heart attack on April 19, 2022 at the age of 72. Her death was unexpected. She is completely irreplaceable to our family and her friends and she will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.
Karla was born on May 5, 1949 in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Orval Monson and Sylvia Arason. Her family later moved to Ballard, Washington in 1954, where Karla grew up. She graduated from Ballard High School in 1967 and, one month later, married John Lapinski, who was her soul mate.
John and Karla met at Ballard High School and were together for over 57 years. Early in their life, they had three beautiful children that were her greatest pride and joy–John Jr., Jayson, and Trina. Karla poured endless love into her marriage, family and into countless numbers of friends. It is amazing how many people considered her their “best friend.” She was important to so many people.
Karla was a deeply spiritual person. Though she loved and valued her family immensely, her greatest love was for Jesus Christ. Her faith was unwavering, and her foundation in Christ was truly her bedrock. Anyone who knew her understood that she gained her strength from her faith and also from the constant support of her husband, John.
Family meant so much to Karla. Her love for her partner, John, was complete. They did everything together and were a constant joy to each other. They especially loved their time together in the mornings, sitting in their oversized chair in front of her fireplace doing their daily devotions. Karla loved their home. She enjoyed sitting on the deck looking at the water listening to music. Music was a big part of her life. While her love for John was great, she had a deep love and respect for her entire family, including both her parents, John’s mother, Annabel and father, and both her brothers, Liel Monson and Dori Monson. She loved being a mother. She had so many special times with her children. Whether it was making them cookies, taking them Christmas shopping, going to the pet store or bicycle shop, or going out for a special treat, she was always so content in being a mom. She found equal joy in being a grandmother (Mimi to the grandchildren). She loved Hannah, Ethan, Tatum, Taylor, Jackson, Ashton, Avery, Gabriel, Daniel and her new great grandchild, Winnie, with all of her heart. She did everything she could to be intertwined in the lives of her grandchildren. She was always there for them, whether it was attending a school event or a recital, taking the kids on a camping trip, going down to the beach to explore marine life, or simply reading them a bible story. She especially liked to recite Psalm 23 to the kids before they snuggled into their beds or sleeping bags at the cabin–a fond nickname for John and Karla’s waterfront home.
Karla is survived by her husband John Lapinski, her brothers Liel Monson and Dori Monson, her daughter, Trina Hopkins, and her son, John Lapinski. She was predeceased by her parents, Orval and Sylvia Monson, and her beloved son, Jayson, who tragically died in 2016. Karla was heartbroken over the sudden death of her second child. And her family can only imagine that Jayson is now overwhelmed with joy to embrace his mother again in Heaven.
Karla is now in the arms of the Father after living a remarkable life for Jesus. To honor her memory, her family will be holding a memorial service at Peninsula Bible Fellowship on Friday May 13, 2022 at 2:30 pm.
Peninsula Bible Fellowship
9590 Radcliff Ave NE,
Bremerton, WA 98311
11 Responses to “Karla Lapinski”
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Dear Family and Friends, Kent and I are so heartbroken over the loss of Karla,a beautiful wife,mother,sister, grandmother, aunt,cousin and friend. Karla just shined in the glory of her precious Jesus Christ,Lord and Savior. We will miss her gentle and kind spirit ❤ (and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies) but take comfort in knowing we will meet again! Much love, Kent and Michelle Benson (cousins)
Karla was a very special person. I did not know her for long but enjoyed her love of life and family. Prayers for her family.
Truly heartbreaking. Karla made everyone feel special …one of the most beautiful and genuinely kindest people we’ve ever had the gift of knowing.
Dear Trina, Alden, Hannah, Ethan & Tatum,
We are beyond devastated for you all. What a lovely tribute to Karla! May the Lord give you all peace that passes all understanding during this time of sudden loss.
With Love & Prayers,
Lindie
I had just met Karla the Saturday before her passing. She glowed with God’s love. She exuded happiness and peace. She is someone who touched more lives than I think even she realized. Rest with God Karla.
Our sincere sympathies are extended to you, her beloved family. Her sudden passing leaves us all stunned. We do know that her faith has brought her home to be with all the family and friends who have gone on before her. We have known her since she was 3 years old. We have watched her become the beautiful person she is. Remember all the good times you shared with her. They will bring tears of joy and sorrow. She will always be right beside you.
Love and prayers. Sibbie and Emily Kristjanson
My heart’s breaking for my cousin John & family. Her Mom Sylvia was my Sunday school teacher @ at our dear old Calvary Lutheran in Ballard, so I took care of Karla in the crib room when I was a teenager, little did I know that my cousin would marry her later in my life. She took such loving care of my Aunt Annabel at the end of her life. She didn’t just talk the talk/ she walked the walk and our family loved her. Barb (Lippmann) Krull
Heartbroken that my dear, younger cousin Karla is no longer with us…and especially pondering Karla memories as her May birthday is on Thursday the 5th. We shared May birthdays and tried to get together around that time. Childhood memories go as far back as Grandforks ND when my sister Karen and I travelled with Grandma (Ma)Monson on the train from Edinburg to spend a night with little Karla, Orval and Sylvia. We were fascinated with Karla and her acrobatic skills. When Orval, Sylvia and Karla moved to Seattle they stayed with us in Burien until they got settled in Ballard. Later, growing up, I spend a week or so in summers in Ballard at Karla’s beaconing. Our relationship strengthened as adults – both of us lost adult sons. Karla was a spiritual inspiration to me and I will miss her – especially in May. Comfort in knowing Karla is with her Lord and Savior, and precious family members that preceded her in death. Blessings to John and family.
I am deeply grieved at not being able to have waid good bye to my beautiful friend and sister in Christ. I met her in BSF where she discipled women to keep on studying God’s word for themselves. Her tender and compassionate heart drewany to her and her Lord. May God comfort those she’s left.
All of Karla’s BSF sisters and friends will sorely miss her loving, cheerful presence and servants heart for others. Kind and gracious, Karla radiated Jesus’ love and compassion for people as a Bible Study group leader, wife and mother. Her passing was a shock, but we know she is at home with the Lord in Heaven. We hope to imitate her life of faith and discipleship. May God bless you, Karla. We already miss you.
With love and condolences to her family,
Stefanie Allen
Jim and I were shocked to hear Karla had passed away. We read all the wonderful things that were said about Karla, and we couldn’t agree more that Karla was a very special person. Karla and John were neighbors of ours and our children and their children spent time together. We have some great memories of those days, and we couldn’t have had better neighbors and friends than Karla and John. They were thoughtful and kind to everyone, and we missed them when they moved away. Our kids played together, and sometimes we just had to sit back and laugh at the funny things our kids did. It was never a dull moment when we were raising our children, but those years were some of the happiest times of our lives. John did electrical work on our house and Jason followed in his footsteps. We were heartbroken when Jason passed away, and now we are heartbroken that Karla is gone. I’m sure Jason was waiting for his Mom with open arms, and they are having a nice visit in heaven. Even though we haven’t seen much of each other over the past few years being busy like, you, John and Karla, with our children and grandchildren, we have always kept all of you in our hearts and prayers, and every once in a while as I go through photos, I see a picture of John and Karla and their family and recall all those special times we spent together. You, John and your family, will continue to be remembered in our prayers, and perhaps someday (God willing) we will be together again in heaven reminiscing over those very special times we spent together. Please keep in touch and let us know how you all are doing. We all love and care about you, John, and the rest of your family. God bless you all.