KARL WAHL
May 22, 1935 March 5, 2023
Karl Norman Wahl passed away peacefully in Canmore, Alberta in his sleep after a long illness due to a “trapped lung” at the age of 87.
Karl was born in Peoria, Illinois on May 22, 1935, to Mary M. and Karl G. Wahl. He grew up with a sister, Joan, and a brother, Robert. He spent his grade school years in Phoenix, Arizona, and his secondary years in Glendale, California.
He has a degree in chemical engineering and business from the University of California, Berkeley. He invented the hub and spoke system for logistics and distribution in the trucking business. Over 32 years he was president of five different companies which he made profitable. His career moved him from California to New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Ontario and Alberta. He immigrated to Canada in 1969 and became a citizen of the country in 1980. He ended his work career in electricity distribution in Mississauga, Ontario.
Karl and Mary built a house in Canmore, Alberta and moved there, December 2015. Karl loved their view of the mountains, the Bow River, the blue sky, rainbows and sunrises. The wildlife was very special.
Karl and Mary met in Berkeley, California and were married for 64 years. They raised three children Hanna Lori, Kirsten Elise, and Karl Fredrick. Sophie is their beloved grandchild.
Karl had many friends in the Bow Valley and Toronto. He was a member of Canmore Rotary, Canmore Seniors Association, Our Lady of the Rockies parish council and the steering committee for building the church, Canmore library board, and Palliative Care Society. He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization and its senior affiliates for 50 years.
He loved classical music and was an ardent attendee of Arts Place and the Banff Centre for Creativity. He loved to read all the way to his last day. He and his wife travelled extensively to many foreign countries.
After he retired, Karl obtained a certificate in Gerontology and conducted workshops within Canmore to develop the personal spiritual strengths of participants. His fresh ideas and enthusiasm for the spiritual aspects of adult development to think younger than one’s physical age inspired maturing adults to live more abundant lives.
Karl wanted to extend a very special thanks to Dr. Mark Hawkins, the Canmore Hospital medical staff, The Tom Baker Cancer Centre, and AHS Home Care. A funeral mass will take place at the Shrine Church of Our Lady of the Rockies in Canmore on Friday, May 5, 2023 at 11 am.
For those who wish to do so, memorial donations can be made to the Canmore Rotary Foundation at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/t/80233
