Karl was a veteran and served his country in the Air Force until he retired, but that is only a part of the life lived that made him such a special and memorable man. Karl was very intelligent and a natural leader. He had a broad range of interests, you could best describe him as a modern "Renaissance Man".
Among his many interests he particularly loved classic movies and could astound you with the details and trivia he knew. He was a musician and a fine guitarist and he had an eclectic range of taste in music, but remained an avid fan of the Beatles above all others.
Karl was a teacher, he had a way of inspiring people to want to know more when he would share his knowledge in conversation and in the most casual way you may find yourself with a slightly different perspective. Karl had a fine sense of humor. He wasn't one to take himself too seriously and would be the first to poke fun at his own expense.
Above all Karl was steadfast. If he was your friend, he was always your friend. If he loved you, he truly loved you. He loved his extended family and was always there for each of them. Most of all he loved his wife Becky and was devoted to her for the 27 years they had together. He loved his 4 step-children, his 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He managed, with each of them, to make a special and individual connection so each of these children knew he loved them and valued the person they are. They called him "Old Pa", an affectionate and silly nickname that started years ago and highlights how secure they felt in his love and acceptance of them.
Karl was also a man of deep convictions. Conviction of faith and of right and wrong. He would always stand up for his beliefs.
We lost a wonderful man many years too soon. As we remember him, remember he was a patriot. Remember he was kind. Remember he was clever and funny, and we will miss him terribly.
Karl was preceded in death by his loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Vickner. He is survived by his son James (Jessica) Clark; daughters Angela Sylvester (Robert Straub), Kim (Adam) Whitman and Miranda Cobb; brothers Kurt (Lynn) Vickner and Kerry (Laura) Vickner; sisters Karen (Frank) Ritchie and Kristen (Joe) Graben; granddaughters Kendall and Kinley Clark, Gabrielle and Olivia Whitman, and Kylen Cobb; grandsons Alexander (Olivia) McCann, Andrew Sylvester, Devin and Addison Cobb, Phoenix Taylor, and Aydon Whitman; great-granddaughter Anna and Sydney McCann; nephews Brandon, Eric, Jon and Riley Vickner, Frank and Zach Ritchie, and Jim Graben; nieces Jennifer Vickner and Kim Berri.
A visitation for Karl will be held Sunday, August 11, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 New Warrington Road, Pensacola, FL 32506. A funeral service be the next day at 10:00 am, Monday, August 12, 2019. Interment will immediately follow the service at Barrancas National Cemetery, 1 Cemetery Rd., Pensacola, FL 32508, with full military honors.
Remember me in quiet days, while raindrops whisper on your pane. Remember in your memories have no grief, let the joy we knew remain. Remember me if once you wake, to catch a glimpse of red sunrise. Remember when your thoughts do turn to me, know that I would not have you cry, but live for me, and laugh for me. When you are happy, so am I. Remember an old joke we shared. Remember me when spring walks by. Think once of me when you are glad and while you live, I shall not die!
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