Born on November 20, 1932, in Siegen, Germany, Karl was shaped by faith, discipline, and a lifelong curiosity about how things worked. He often shared the story of being the last one into the bomb shelter on December 24, 1944, when their family home and shoe store business—along with the Christmas goose, all went up in flames.
In 1954, Karl immigrated to the United States and later became a U.S. citizen. In 1957, he met Ruth Helene Fricke in Passaic, New Jersey. Her family had also immigrated from Eisleben, East Germany. That same year, Karl enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany from 1957 to 1959. Karl and Ruth were married on July 30, 1960, beginning a marriage grounded in faith, perseverance, and devotion.
Karl's professional life reflected his love of precision and craftsmanship. He worked as a consultant to the wood industry, including Martin Guitar and Steinway Piano. His keen interest in Mercedes-Benz automobiles grew into Classic Car Restoration, LLC, through which he became world-renowned as a master mechanic and restorer of the Mercedes-Benz 600 and 6.3-powered automobiles. A longtime member of the MB100 Mercedes Club, he also served as editor of the club's newsletter, Lode Star. To Karl, his work was his hobby, and his hobby was his work. In 1986, one of the three-ton vehicles he was restoring nearly claimed his life when an air-suspension system exploded and dropped the car onto his chest. From then on, every restoration was more than a technical challenge—it was an act of stewardship, reflecting the redeeming grace he knew through Christ. He loved the work God entrusted him with until the business was sold in 2023.
Those who knew Karl remember his quiet, reflective nature, always there to listen. He loved hymns, Friday night pizza, and laughter, especially when recalling stories of driving cross-country in his restored MB600 hearse. His sweet tooth was legendary. His generosity was extraordinary. He freely shared his time, talents, and treasure, delighting in blessing others unexpectedly. Even the family dog, Louie, loved staying by his side, knowing he would be included too.
Karl had a steady way of pointing others to God—accepting hardship as a character shaper, humbly admitting his failures, giving thanks in all circumstances, and trusting that God was always with us, always.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth, of Wausau, Wisconsin, and their four daughters: Christine Westburg (Paul), of Texas, with sons Jordan and Jesse; Claudia Keller, of Pennsylvania, with children Sophia, Steven, Sammy, and Aliyah; Audrey Felten (David), of Wisconsin, with sons Hans and Conrad; and Margaret Ross (Travis), of North Carolina, with children AJ, Chloe, Stefan, and Sebastian. He was a proud grandfather of twelve grandchildren and nearly six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Jutta, of Pakistan, and his brother, Frieder, and sister-in-law, Doerte, of Germany.
A private family celebration of life will be held for Opa, as he was affectionately known by so many.
