John M. Karakula Jr., born October 23, 1937, in Hadley, Massachusetts, passed away February 20, 2024, in New Braunfels, Texas at the age of 86.

John is a Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Air Force and retired a Master Sergeant.  He enjoyed building model kits - airplanes mostly - and his real passion was model trains.  He enjoyed the hobby enough that he opened his own business "Leisure Time Hobby Shop" in San Antonio, which he ran for close to 10 years in the 80s.

After meeting in Hawaii where he was stationed and she was on TDY, he married Peggy (Gould) Karakula, on June 10, 1967, and spent their 56 years together living in San Antonio and then New Braunfels.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Karakula of New Braunfels, son David and his wife Eva of Athens, Alabama, daughter Dawn of New Braunfels, two granddaughters Makenzie and Emmalee, brother Richard and sister Patricia of Northampton, Massachusetts.  He was preceded in death by his parents, John M. Karakula Sr., and Victoria (Veiner) Karakula of Hadley, Massachusetts.

A graveside will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to your local animal shelter for John loved his animals and couldn't pass on giving a stray dog or cat a home.