I worked under Karl in the Memphis Hub back in 1984, and also his wife Molly Beale while in the SuperHub.
Karl was a great man, a man of his word and dedicated to the company and the Hub Operation "spoke" system of operations and management.
I am saddened to see Karl has passed, but glad I had the opportunity to work with such a great man.

I was 25 yrs old working in the hub.  Mr. Birkholz was around the hub alot and he would always say hello. He was one great man.  
June 11th was my 35th anniversary at Fed.
Im sure he will be missed by many!
Paula Diana

Our condolences to the Birkholz family for your loss! My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Karl on the FEDEXFamilyhouse advisory committee. He was a great resource for our efforts. He will be missed!

Operation Stand Down MidSouth would like to offer you and your family our warmest condolence. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

I began working closely with Karl when I was assigned as a support Engineer for the Miami ramp in the early 90's. At the time, that operation was placed under the hub umbrella as a gateway location.  So, once a week, Karl and I would meet in his office to discuss the ramp operation and service to/from South America. We would occasionally travel together to MIART for meetings and to observe the operation so I got to know him well. I thoroughly enjoyed every conversation with Karl and his many funny and interesting stories. He shot straight with everyone and in return he expected your complete honesty to gain his trust and friendship. His role as the VP of the Memphis Hub was undoubtedly pivotal to many of the early successes and growth of FedEx. He was a most interesting and remarkable man, full of character and no doubt has served as a mentor to many that are fortunate to have known him. Thank you, Karl!

Karl Will be remembered for all he was willing to give.He will be missed my all that new him.He was tough as nails and soft as a kitten. Roger and Bev Larson.

Karl was a man I much respected for his leadership, candid remarks and caring for others.  A person whom I most thoroughly enjoyed working with in the community.  Prayers to family for strength and comfort.  God Bless.

I enjoyed working with Karl in his role as a member of the Memphis Area Transit Authority Board of Commissioners. He was very dedicated and an interesting person to be around.

Years ago I attended a United Way event representing FedEx and sat next to Karl.  As we left he handed me his card and encouraged me to join FedEx Retiree Club when I retired, and I did just that two years ago.  He encouraged me when there was a vacancy for Secretary of the FedEx Retiree Club Board and I was looking forward to his mentoring me this coming year.  I will still be listening...God speed.
Rose Ann Bradley, FERC BOD

One of the most dynamic men and leaders I ever met. I have many many memories of the times I worked under his direction. He was indeed a classic.

Mr. Birkholz was a real leader at Fedex. You always knew how you stood with him, he would tell you, sometimes good sometimes bad, but always honest with you. I appreciated his honesty and enjoyed his fellowship. Our hearts and our prayers are with The Karl Patrick Birkholz Family and Friends. We salute you, Mr. Birkholz, and God be with you. 
Most Respectfully,

The Rick Leigh Family
131 West Valley Street 
Hernando, Mississippi
38632
Flight Operations-Fedex Airport

Karl was VP of the hub when I hired into Hub Engineering in 1981.  He was exactly what the hub needed at the time to bring discipline and structure into a rapidly growing operation.  My next chance to work closely with him and really get to know him  was 1989 when I was on the Tigerclaw task force after the Flying Tiger acquisition. A group of us traveled around for 3-4 months to various facilities to determine how to best merge the operations.  At the end of a long day he always had many funny stories to share from past days at UPS or early FedEx.  He was a born leader and gave his all to whatever endeavor he was involved in. Prayers and condolences to the family. 
RIP KB.

I worked with Karl in my early years as a UPSer, I will always remember him as the most dedicated person in the world. If ever I had owned my own company he would have been my first choice to help me run it. Both FED EX and UPS were blessed to have him help make them the great companys they are today

Karl's many contributions to our community made Memphis a better place for all of us.   I first met Karl in our Leadership Memphis Class of 1986.  We became instant friends.    He personified the core values of FedEx.   God bless you my friend.

Karl was a wonderful man.  A man of integrity. Prayers for his family.  He definitely lived his "dash". 1938-2016.    RIP Mr. Karl

Karl was the most selfless man I know!  He was always serving others in his community and church!!  He will truly be missed!!!  Rest in peace, Karl, you are home now!

I met Karl when I joined the Steering Committee of the West Tennessee Veterans Home, Inc..  He had already been involved in leading the charge to build a skilled care facility for veterans in West Tennessee. I came to admire and respect this giant of a man with his tenacity, wit, and spirit which was full-speed ahead, "let's get this job done."  I regret Karl will not see the project finished but I can assure Karl it will be done, and in large part to the role he played while he was with us.  Thank you Birkholz family for allowing the West Tennessee Veterans Home, Inc.  to have Karl as a Director of our organization - we will always remember him and the major role he played on this project.

Karl and I were both former UPSers who found the idea of FEDEX to be a logical progression of our earlier experience there. We worked together for many years and I always found his willingness to clearly identify issues and possible solutions to be a refreshing aspect of dealing with him. We didn't always agree but we always knew where each of us stood. 

I also knew him as a good parent and great leader and the hub was his success story as well as FEDEX'. I know he will continue to shake things up and promote straight talk wherever his soul resides now. It was a pleasure to know him and the world will be a lesser place without him.
God Bless!

Dennis Sweeney

As a FedExer, I had the pleasure of working indirectly with Karl, particularly when it came to the annual food drives that he was so supportive of.  After his retirement, I was responsible for getting the Retiree Club off the ground and running as it should.  I had the fortunate circumstance of working with him directly on that.  He was proud of the legacy that FedEx had built not just locally but internationally.  He wanted retirees to always know what was going on with the company even though they were no longer actively employed. He made sure that they had information from all the key players by making sure that company officials addressed the Retiree Club on a regular basis.  He was a man of strong conviction and integrity.  His legacy will live on in the annuals of FedEx history.  Thank you for the privilege of knowing you and working with you.

I always smiled wide when I thought of Karl and I still will. One of the true standup people that you get a chance to meet in life. Karl unselfishly helped out a lot of people along the way, inside and outside of FedEx. I was one of those people.  Hope the good Lord was ready!!

karl b,
helped a lot of people. hard as german steel, sweet as strudel.  great man no doubt.  a tear for us in his rememberance.  hope he's workin the sort with the Lord when I get to the pearly gates.
scott f

We are praying for the family, we pray you have peace during this very difficult time. Karl's light is now shining with GOD. Much love

Karl

Remembering the old days in the 70's when you took me under your wing at UPS -- Pleaded with me several times to join you at Fedex... Never forget your loyalty and support through all the years...  For all that you have blessed, mentored, inspired and supported ---  may God welcome you with open arms as you have so many others ---  Tom Glasgow

Karl was a man I always admired. He was an outspoken, dedicated, and sometimes firm minded leader and exactly what the Hub needed when he arrived at Federal Express. I did not know Karl when he worked for UPS but as an old UPSer myself, I was thrilled when he arrived and took control of it. We worked very closely together for many years and there are few men I respect more as a leader and man of action . left FEDEX 19 years ago but kept in touch more or less until the last few years but whenever we ran into each other it was always a pleasure.to talk with someone who was not afraid to say exactly what he thought. He also camr across as a good family man-every time I saw him off the job he seemed to have one or more kids with him.
           I deeply regret your loos and know the world will miss him. I'm proud to say I knew him and worked with him and know the world will miss him. He was a living example of the mindset that made bot UPS and FEDEX the successes they are. My best wishes to you all.

Dennis Sweeney.

OBITUARIO

Karl Patrick Birkholz

23 enero, 1938 – 11 junio, 2016

Memphis Funeral Home

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