Richard Karlsson

DICK KARLSSON IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO -- Richard "Dick" Karlsson, 100, died of pneumonia at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Idaho Falls, ID, on December 15, 2008. Dick was born August 23, 1908, in Antwerp, Belgium, to Gustave and Marie Claessens Karlsson and moved to Hoboken, New Jersey, with his family in 1919. He was the 9th child of 11 born to his parents. He left high school at age 14 to help support his family after his father broke a leg and could not work. He had a 47-year long career at AT&T in New York City, starting as a mail boy. His later jobs included telephone installer, corporate statistician, leader of a microwave system development support group at Bell Laboratories during the second World War, and coordinator for large temporary telephone installation projects, such as at the UN. Dick believed in physical fitness, including a healthy diet. He learned to box well enough to be a sparring partner in his spare time to professional boxers and swam 5 miles at a time for pleasure. He took night classes to obtain his GED, study union management, and learn to play the saxophone, banjo, and piano. In his 20's, he played in a popular local band "The Vagabonds" evenings and weekends. The band was offered a permanent spot on the first radio station in New Jersey, but the members decided to keep their "day" jobs. He was a Past Master and the oldest living member of the Adoniram-Highland, Wakefield-Rising Star Masonic Lodge, Lyndhurst, NJ. In 1931, Dick married Margaret Anne "Mollie" Pitcher at Trinity Episcopal Church in Hoboken, NJ. They lived in West New York, Lyndhurst, River Edge, and Blairstown, NJ. Dick retired in 1969, and spent the next 30 happy years beautifying his surroundings and raising plentiful crops by organic gardening methods on four acres in Blairstown, New Jersey. His wife died in 1988. In 1998, he moved to Mt. Arlington, NJ, and in 2002 to Fairwinds-Sand Creek Retirement Community in Idaho Falls, ID. He loved to ballroom dance, play poker, and attend symphony concerts, even after he reached 100 years. He is remembered for his graciousness, the sparkle in his eye, happy demeanor, and kindness to all he knew. Dick is survived by his daughter, Peggy (Dieter) Knecht of Idaho Falls and Driggs, ID; his grandson, Stephen (Kristi) Knecht, of Flagstaff, Arizona; his youngest sister, Theresa Grant, of Hawthorne, NJ; nephews William (Jan) Grant, of Maricopa, AZ, Ronald (Teena) Grant of Mahwah, NJ and Patrick Drewes (Deborah) of Dade City, FL; nieces Bertha Madieros of Massapequa, NY, and Mary Cioffi of San Diego, CA; and a large extended family and network of friends that meant the world to him. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Arlington, NJ, with viewing and meeting with family and friends an hour before. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Hackettstown, NJ. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2009, at Fairwinds-Sandcreek Retirement Community in Idaho Falls. --------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Evan & Caroline Filby Please accept our deepest sympathy on the death of your father. We so enjoyed meeting him in the doctor's office and especially enjoyed his TV commercial for Fairwinds-Sandcreek. What a wonderful personality he had! Sincerely, Caroline and Evan Sharon and Ron Modrow Dear Peggy and Dieter, Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. How hard it must be to let go of someone so vital and important in your lives. We will remember Dick by his wonderful, positve smile and charming demeanor. Love, Sharon and Ron Modrow Arthur and Annelies Kull Dear Peggy and Dieter, We are sorry about the loss of your father/father-in-law. We are also thankful to have known him, at least a little bit. We'll remember him dancing or working out at Apple, always with a smile. Best wishes and kind regards, Arthur and Annelies Kull