I’ve known Karl since I was 22 and I could talk for hours about his life and his accomplishments but time is precious.  Karl was a great leader and a great organizer, but moreover, he had a great love for the outdoors and a great love for adventure.  When I think back to our good times together, here are some of the best I think about.   

Karl and I (and Lloyd Saunders) taking flying lessons at the Breslau Flying Club.  There may be no greater thrill in life than the first time you take off in an airplane by yourself.

Hunting for ducks and deer out of the old family cottage at Victoria Harbour when we were in university.  Eating squirrel for dinner at the Halfway House in Breslau.

On the coldest day of the winter, trying to cross-country ski across a frozen Georgian Bay from Honey Harbour to Karl’s cottage before it became dark and we froze to death.  Fortunately we made it just in time.

Boating around his beloved Georgian Bay for 2 or 3 days at a time.  Picking a remote beach to camp on and watching the sunset.

Playing hockey together in the Malton arena beside the Beak office.

Down-rigging for salmon and trout on Georgian Bay near his cottage and later off of Collingwood.  Fishing for salmon off of Manitoulin Island.  Many of his friends participated in these activities with him.

Going on the “Glenora” trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and many of the Caribbean Islands.  Snorkelling and scuba diving at many of those locations such as Cozumel and Curaca.

Karl was a superb downhill skier and he introduced me to skiing the first winter after we met.  He also taught other people how to ski, especially his children and grand children.

In 1988, Karl began organizing annual ski trips to western Canada and the US usually consisting of 4 – 5 people.  Both Karl’s brother, Jim, and his son, Erik, were participants in these adventures along with other people at this celebration of life.  These annual trips were wonderful, and subsequently continued for 32 consecutive years until March of last year.  Over that time, Karl and his friends skied a total of 49 different ski resorts in two provinces and 8 states.  Besides ski hills like Lake Louise, Whistler, Telluride and Jackson Hole, we got to see cities like Banff, Vancouver, Denver and especially Flagstaff, Arizona. 

I’m sure that many of you here this afternoon have had similar experiences with Karl.  I know I will never be able to participate in any of these activities again without thinking of Karl and what a great friend and companion he was.