Karl Stephen Walbrecht

Karl Stephen Walbrecht, dearly loved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather passed into the next life on February 3, 2019. He was preparing for church when he was taken suddenly and quickly by a heart attack. Karl was born November 16, 1961, in Lancaster County, California, to Miles Richard Walbrecht and the late Donna May Nielsen Walbrecht. He is younger brother to Laurie (Dan) Burk. He spent his early childhood in California and Utah, and at age 7 moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where he later graduated from Fort Hunt High School in 1980. Karl served a two-year church mission to Fukuoka, Japan where he became a fluent speaker of Japanese. He then went to Brigham Young University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in computer science. While studying at BYU, he met Barbara Passey Walbrecht, whom he married June 27, 1987. Together, they had four wonderful children: Alisha (Timothy) Turpin, Elizabeth (Curtis) Thygerson, James (Elizabeth Wiglama) Walbrecht and Benjamin (Sherry McLeod) Walbrecht. Karl and Barbara have three wonderful grandsons to date (Wallace Turpin, Christian Thygerson, and Thomas Walbrecht), and the first granddaughter is expected in June. Karl was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in a variety of leadership roles and led scouts for many years, but he especially loved to teach. He was a scriptorian who inspired many with his strength and testimony. Karl’s keen intellect made him knowledgeable in many areas: he excelled as a computer programmer and hoped to continue working for many years; he had a deep understanding of the doctrine of Christ; and he could tie every knot known to the scouts. His children grew up sincerely believing he knew everything about everything. Karl was very generous and always opened his home to anyone in need, but he was especially generous to his children for whom he always made time. He did so much to help his children, and if he didn’t already know how to solve any problem they needed help with, he could and would figure it out. He provided his children with everything he could to help them achieve their goals and then marveled as they did so. Karl will be deeply missed by his coworkers, his friends, and especially by his family. But we know that our sorrow at having him leave us is only matched by the joy of those who are welcoming him in the next life. The family will receive friends for a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 8, 2019, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1399 Courthouse Road, Stafford, Virginia. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 161 Eustace Road, Stafford, VA. Interment will follow at Stafford Memorial Park.