Howard A. Karl Jr. (Howie), 81, of Hackettstown, NJ, went to be with the Lord on Friday, June 24, 2011, at House of the Good Shepherd in Hackettstown.
Born in East Orange, NJ, on June 12, 1930, to Howard and Mary Karl, he spent the majority of his life in Hopatcong, NJ. He later moved to Alburg, Waitsfield and Rochester, VT. After retirement he moved to Manvel, TX, Ooltewah, TN, and returned to Hackettstown, NJ, in October 2010.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1949 to 1950. He married Anna Mary Mitchell on October 14, 1950. He owned and operated his own business, Karl’s Medallion Electric, until 1965 when he joined the Hopatcong Police Department. He served as police chief of Hopatcong from 1966 until he retired in 1978. In 1971, under the State Law Enforcement Planning Grant program, Chief Howard Karl of Hopatcong and Chief Danielson of Byram collaborated to get a grant to set up a regional communications center in Hopatcong. The center was set up under an interlocal agreement and included Hopatcong, Byram, Stanhope, Netcong and Mt. Arlington with contract services also rendered to Andover Borough, Andover Township, Green Township and Allamuchy Township. The system was known as the Sussex-Morris Regional Police Communications Network. He was also responsible for establishing the Hopatcong Bloodhound K-9 unit including training and handling the first bloodhounds (1970-1978).
He was a volunteer member of the Hopatcong Company #3 Fire Department where he served as captain from 1958 to 1960 and chief from 1962 to 1965. In 1955, the department purchased a used 1943 army personnel and weapons carrier and the department volunteers converted it into a brush truck. Engine 152 is still in service today being entered in parades and has won numerous trophies over the years.
After retiring from the police department, he moved to Vermont and owned and operated a small country store. He later moved to central Vermont where he was the facilities manager at Green Mountain Valley School. After retirement, he moved to Texas and was the facilities manager at Almost Heaven RV Resort. While there he designed and built the facility sewerage treatment plant. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2005, he moved to Ooltewah, TN, where he resided until October 2010, when he moved to the House of Good Shepherd in Hackettstown, NJ.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman, skier (water and snow) and boater (enjoying boat racing and pleasure craft) and was skilled in electrical, plumbing, construction, automobile repair and woodworking. He could always be found building or fixing something.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anna, Hackettstown, NJ; daughters Kathryn (John) Liebenow, Chattanooga, TN, Lorraine (Mike) Flora, Stanhope, NJ, and Jeanne Lorito, Mansfield Township, NJ; grandchildren Michael (Tara) Flora Jr., Stillwater, NJ, Brian (Tracy) Liebenow, Essex Junction, VT, David (Cas) Liebenow, Barre, VT, Nicki Flora, Flanders, NJ, Amy (Nick) McAllister, Millington, TN, Jennilee Lorito, Newton, NJ, Daniel Flora, Stanhope, NJ, and Katelin Lorito, Stanhope, NJ; great-grandchildren Jacob Schuchman and Gavin McAllister; brother Charles (Viola) Karl, Budd Lake, NJ; sister Patricia Shields, Gastonia, NC; and many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends attended his funeral mass on Monday, June 27. The family received friends and relatives for visiting hours on Sunday, June 26, at the funeral home. For further information and to offer online condolences, please visit www.leberlakeside.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. The family would like to thank all those who provided care for him during his last weeks of life. We truly appreciate your kindness and support on his journey home.
