Donald C. Karenbauer, 72, of Herman died unexpectedly at 4:35 a.m. Wednesday at his home of natural causes.

He was born in Butler, Oct. 3, 1937, the son of the late Martin Karenbauer and the late Dorothy Steighner Karenbauer.

He was a private first class with the U.S. Army from Sept. 30, 1955, to Sept. 24, 1958.

Following his career with the military, he was a machinist at Butler Armco, now A.K. Steel, for 30 years until he retired in April 1994.

He was a Roman Catholic and was a member of the Armco Retirees Association.

He enjoyed gardening and woodworking.

Surviving are his wife, Pat Gschwind, who he married Oct. 21, 1979; a daughter, Connie Vicario and her husband, Mark, of York, Pa.; a daughter-in-law, Heather Reed Karenbauer of Butler; three grandchildren, Ryan Schramm of Butler, Shane Reed of Butler, and Brittney Karenbauer of Butler; a great-granddaughter, Lindsey Schramm of Butler; a brother, Dale Karenbauer and his wife, Margaret, of Butler; a sister, Joyce Reep and her husband, William, of Butler; a sister-in-law, Lucille Holly Karenbauer; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Karenbauer; and a brother, Reid Karenbauer.

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<B>KARENBAUER</B> — Friends of Donald C. Karenbauer, who died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>STEIGHNER FUNERAL HOME</B>, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets in Chicora. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Herman, with the Rev. Mark Carter, officiating. Inurnment and burial will be later at the convenience of his family.For more information, directions or to extend condolences to his family, go to www.steighnerfuneralhome.com.