Bernard Michael Karnes

Bernard Michael Karnes 1940 – 2024

Bernard Michael Karnes, 83, of Boise, Idaho passed away on June 11, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. He fought back cancer and lived with a laryngectomy for many years.

Bernard was born June 15, 1940, in Anselmo, Nebraska, the son of Willie (Bill) and Blanche Karnes. As a baby, his parents and he moved to Boise, Idaho. He was the oldest of three children. He attended Boise schools and graduated from Boise High School in 1958.

At a very young age, Bernie fell in love with horses and bought one while in junior high. He joined a western riding club that gave him many rides at the local fairgrounds (at that time located off Orchard Street) and area. Bernie’s work career began early. He had a daily morning newspaper route at 12. At 15, he dipped ice cream and carried out groceries at a neighborhood Albertson’s. Bernie excelled up the ranks of Albertson’s and became a store manager of many stores throughout the northwest and Texas. At the end of his career, he moved to Mt. Vernon, Washington. He worked for Franz Bakery. It is there he met the love of his life, Gloria Swihart. Throughout these moves, Bernie always had a horse. It was with Gloria that they both enjoyed life in Mt. Vernon on 5 acres with high spirited horses. Because of his dad’s failing health, Bernie and Gloria moved back to Boise in 2007.

Here Bernie enjoyed getting together with his school classmates once a month for lunch. He also kept current with the activities at the Idaho Horse Park in Nampa and daily drives around this fast-developing Treasure Valley area.

Bernie is survived by his significant other Gloria Swihart, his brother Harry Karnes (Betty), his sister Donna Baird (Bob), his two daughters Colleen Johnson (Mike) and Kelly Burke (John), two grandsons, two granddaughters, five great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

We wish to send special thanks to St. Lukes Regional Medical Hospital, Meridian. The family suggests that memorials be made in Bernie’s name to a favorite charity or to Heritage Trust Fund (For: Paving of Morris Hill Cemetery roads), 1104 W. Royal Blvd, Boise, Idaho 83706.

Graveside services will be under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel at Morris Hill Cemetery, Boise, Idaho on June 22, 2024 at 11 a.m.