Virginia Anna Karas, age 91, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026, from heart failure while in hospice care in McKinney, Texas. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a gifted educator, and a woman of deep and unwavering faith.

Virginia lived her life caring for others. Her faith in Jesus was central to who she was, and she never missed an opportunity to share it, whether through a conversation, a word of encouragement, or even handing out Bibles to people in the waiting room while waiting for her own doctor's appointments.

She was also an educator at heart. A beloved first-grade teacher, Virginia had a special gift for helping children discover the joy of learning. Her love of books continued long after she left the classroom. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew that when they saw Grandma, there was a good chance she would have a book waiting for them, along with an opportunity to read it together.

Above all, Virginia loved her family. Through the way she lived, she taught her family to be kind, value education, care for others and hold close to their faith. Lessons that will continue through the generations.

Virginia was born in the small town of Burchard, Nebraska, to Josef and Adella Ruzicka. After graduating from Burchard High School in 1953, she attended Peru State Teacher's College, where she met Junior Karas. They married on May 27, 1956.

In 1960, Virginia and Junior moved to Woodlin School south of Brush, Colorado, where they raised their five children. During those years, Virginia was a homemaker and substitute teacher. In 1970, the family moved to Fort Morgan. Over the next 21 years, Virginia earned her master's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and spent much of her career teaching first grade at Green Acres Elementary School.

Virginia retired in 1991, and she and Junior embraced a busy life together. She loved being Grandma, riding the motorcycle, camping in their fifth wheel, gardening, embroidery, cooking traditional Czech foods, reading, serving as Grand Esther and Worthy Matro for the Order of the Eastern Star, and participating in discipleship classes. She spent the last five years of her life living with her son Jim, his wife, Nancy, and Nancy’s mother, Sandra, in Aubrey, Texas.

Virginia is survived by her brother, Joe and Kathy Ruzicka; her sister, Joan and Joe Christen; her sons, Jim and Nancy Karas, Jeff and Gale Karas, and Jon and Terri Karas; and her daughter, Janelle and John Woods.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jen Hall, Ryan and Kristi Karas, Jacob and Sarah Karas, Logan Karas, Trista and Chris Cobbley, Nicole and Brett Anderson, Daron Blaylock, Zack and Kendall Blaylock, Dominick Blaylock, Ashton Woods, Audriana and Grant Packard, and Makayla Stark and her parents, Marcie and Wayne Stark; her great-grandchildren, Camden and Beckett Karas, Rivah and Zelda Karas, Asher and Bentley Cobbley, Nolan and Barrett Anderson, and Natalia Packard; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Junior Karas; her sister, Mary Ann Ruzicka; her son, Joseph Karas; and her granddaughter, Jennifer Sampson.

Virginia's presence will be deeply missed, but the love she gave, the lessons she taught, the books she shared, and the faith she lived will remain with her family for generations to come.

Services will be held November 7th at the Immanuel Evangelical Church, 318 W. 7th Avenue in Fort Morgan at 10:00 AM. The service will be live streamed on You Tube at the Immanuel Evangelical Church Fort Morgan site. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Morgan County Library at 930 Sherman Street, Fort Morgan, Colorado, 80701. The proceeds will go to the Green Acres Elementary Library.