Karl Wagner

Karl and his siblings grew up in a war-torn country, always hungry, always in need. At 20, he immigrated to Canada and, while traveling from coast to coast, eked out a living as a professional soccer player, lumberjack, mink farmer, miner, mechanic, welder, etc. In 1963, he immigrated to Houston, Texas where his sister Anni, brothers, Hans & Paul, lived with their families. He immediately joined the Houston Saengerbund Soccer Team and has, throughout the years, enjoyed the close-knit friendships of his teammates. He met his future wife on a soccer Sunday in late 1965 at the Memorial Park soccer fields. Married for almost 47 years to Roswita (Rose), they have two sons, Karl J., Kirk, daughter-in-law, Tarsy, and two grandsons, Mathias–8 and Iakovos–7.

Karl always had an entrepreneurial spirit. With the help of his wife, he started a small steel fabricating business in 1972. Thru sheer willpower, many sacrifices, hard work, determination and the dedication of long-time employees, Karl, Rose and their son, Kirk, have developed their businesses into an expansive domestic and international oil/gas equipment market.

Karl had unconditional love for his family and his dogs. He always looked forward to visiting his son, Karl J., in Florida, swimming with his granddog, Zeus, having pretzels, German food and a beer at the Hofbrau Haus in Miami, and just being able to relax and spend meaningful time with his oldest son. Karl has always loved soccer and coached his youngest son’s soccer teams from the time Kirk was 6 until he went off to college and many years there-after. He took his all-star youth soccer team to tournaments all over the United States, Mexico and in an exchange program, twice, to Germany – an experience none of them have forgotten. He enjoyed bowling, tennis, scuba diving, fishing with his favorite brother-in-law, Peter. He loved playing golf and broke more drivers, wrapped more than his share of golf clubs around trees and at least once or twice threw his whole bag of clubs in the nearest pond with expletives heard a mile away.….he absolutely LOVED golf.

He loved watching Westerns, John Wayne and Audi Murphy. Karl loved this country, loved watching Fox News and would argue politics with anyone who would or wouldn’t listen. He loved spending special weekends with his family at Canyon Lake, feeding the deer and just relaxing – a precious commodity. He had such a wonderful sense of humor that everyone enjoyed. His “Wagnerisms” kept everyone laughing and guessing as to what he meant: “It’s raining hatchets” – “If you have the bacon, eat it” – “Don’t beat around the horse track” – “When the rough gets going, the tough gets going” – “I know that like the back of my pocket”, etc. etc.

However, nothing surpassed being a grandfather - “Opa” - to Mathias & Iakovos. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, Opa would bring special donuts and yummy bacon and have breakfast with “his boys”. Opa never missed any of their soccer games and would be so very proud of their accomplishments. His grandsons have said that Opa will be remembered “Beyond Infinity – Infinity and Beyond”. He was a simple man, a proud man, a hard worker, a good husband – a good father – a very good Opa and a good friend. He will be missed by so many!

Karl is survived by his wife Roswita (Rose), sons Karl & Kirk, daughter-in-law, Tarsy, grandsons Mathias and Iakovos, his sister, Anni (Houston, Texas) and brother, Josef (Freising, Germany); numerous in-laws, nephews, nieces and their families.

The Wagner family would like to extend their warmest thanks to all of their wonderful friends and loved ones for their outpouring of support, expressions of love and kindness during this difficult time – it is greatly appreciated.

LIVE Simply – LOVE Generously – SERVE Faithfully – SPEAK Truthfully – PRAY Daily

Leave Everything Else to GOD

In lieu of flowers, please donate in the honor of Karl Wagner to the Houston SPCA. This would make Karl so happy