Carl Sternhagen, 82, died peacefully Friday, January 9, 2026, at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 Wednesday morning, January 14, 2026, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Monticello, with interment in the Hopkinton Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 at the church.  Pastor David Raemisch will officiate the services. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello, has taken Carl and his family into their care.

Surviving are his wife, Betty; 3 children, Kathy (Curt Peters) Jurgens, Mike (DeeAnn) Sternhagen, and Karla Stahlberg; 6 grandchildren, Eric (Laura) Jurgens, Abby (Dustin) Smith, Kayla (Rich) Foster, Nicole (Pat) Findlay,  Luke (Ellie) Sternhagen, Carter (Olivia Kremer) Stahlberg; 5 great-grandchildren, Avery Jurgens, Elliott, Clara, and Lane Smith, and Charlotte Findlay; his siblings, Jeanette (Howard Chapman) Davis, Bill (LaVonne) Sternhagen, Linda Shelton, Rosemary (Don) Topping, Duane Sternhagen, Anne Avery. Also surviving are his in-laws Phyllis Kramer, Helen Nadermann, Dick (Robin) Krapfl, Irene (Randy) Schilt, and Mary Krapfl.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Victor and Abbie Krapfl, a great-grandson, Caleb Jurgens, a sister, Mary Lou Turnis- Schilling, and in-laws, Wayne Davis, Adrian Turnis, Francis Schilling, Roy Shelton, Judy Sternhagen, Tom Avery, Jean (Elmer) Fangmann, Arnie Krapfl, Dave Kramer, Smoke Nadermann, Grace (Don) Steffen and Jim Krapfl.

Carl Melvin Sternhagen was born March 7, 1943, near Cascade in Dubuque County, the son of Leo and Luella Tucker Sternhagen.  He attended the Hopkinton Schools and graduated from Maquoketa Valley South High School. Carl married Betty Krapfl in 1961 in Manchester, Iowa.  Carl worked at the Hopkinton Creamery, Lefebure in Cedar Rapids, and ATI in Delhi before retiring in 2008.

Carl was an excellent woodworker and carpenter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, watching the birds and squirrels, and gardening.  He loved going to his children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities. Carl treasured visits from family and friends. He was a country boy at heart, relishing his regular drives to Karla's farm to tend to his garden and visit the pets.

Special thanks to Dr. Wilbur, Dr. Christiansen, Dr. Cummings, JRMC Palliative Care, and Care Initiatives Hospice.