The Honorable Karl Francis Peplau, 93, of Eau Claire, died Thursday, July 6, 2006, at Luther Hospital resulting from pneumonia. He was born on May 13, 1913, in Sheboygan, WI, the son of Frederich and Lillian (Galau) Peplau.\r\nHe was a graduate of Sheboygan High School, and graduated from UW-Madison Law School and was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1940. \r\nKarl married Marion Fenton on December 8, 1941, in Minneapolis, MN. Marion died in 1992. Karl married Ruth M. (Kelsh) Harden on April 14, 1997, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.\r\nHe entered the United States Air Force in 1941 during World War II. Following his honorable discharge from the service, he was employed by the Shelby Mutual Insurance Co. as a claims manager for the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1952, he moved to Augusta, WI, where he practiced law throughout Northwestern Wisconsin and served as Augusta City Attorney for 20 years. He also acted as Attorney for the village of Fairchild for that period of time.\r\nIn 1972, Karl was appointed Court Commissioner for Eau Claire County by the Honorable Judge Thomas Barland and that year was elected as a County Judge for the newly created Branch No. 2. In his second term he became a Circuit Judge. He retired from the bench in 1983, and became a Reserve Judge, presiding in over 20 counties throughout the state of Wisconsin. He was very proud to have been recognized by the Wisconsin Supreme Court for that service. For the last several years he was affiliated with the law firm of Herrick and Hart.\r\nKarl was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, George B. Wheeler Masonic Lodge #351 F&AM for 51 years, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Eau Claire County Bar Association, American Legion, and a life member of Veteran's of Foreign Wars.\r\nKarl led a physically active life. He started an exercise regimen in the early 1960's which consisted of running in Augusta and swimming across Coon Fork Lake. After he moved to Eau Claire in 1972 he started swimming and exercising at the YMCA where he swam 15 laps only last week. From 1972 until 1983 when he retired as a full-time Judge, Karl walked to work everyday. He rarely used his assigned parking space at the courthouse. He also enjoyed the Chippewa Valley Symphony and the theatre. An avid reader, Karl was never without a book or magazine while relaxing at home. He especially liked historical works or complex novels and subscribed to 15 magazines.\r\nHe is survived by his wife, Ruth; two sons, Paul, an attorney in San Francisco, CA, and Jeffry (Marilyn) of New Richmond; four step-children, Kim (Pam) Harden of Eau Claire, Jon (Lynn) Harden of Frederick, MD, Dr. Cynthia Harden of New York City, NY, and Susan (Derrick) Edwards of River Falls; six step-grandchildren; and three nieces.\r\nHe was also preceded in death by his parents; and his sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and George Fistler.\r\nVisitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 9, 2006, at the University Lutheran Church in the Ecumenical Religious Center on the campus of UW-Eau Claire, 110 Garfield Avenue. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 10, 2006, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 Broadway Avenue, Eau Claire with Rev. Mark X. Pirazzini and Rev. Donald Wisner officiating. Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral&Cremation Services is serving his family.\r\nIn lieu of flowers family prefers memorials be directed to the Eau Claire YMCA, 700 Graham Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 or to Coon Forks County Park, Attn: John Staszcuk Eau Claire County, 227 1st St. West, Altoona, WI 54720.\r\n

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