Karl F. Flammer, 88, passed away peacefully at his home, in Palm Harbor, Florida, on December 12, 2018. Karl was born on May 23, 1930, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Russell and Marguerite Flammer. Karl moved to Florida in 1943, as a teenager, and graduated from Clearwater High School in 1948, where he met the love of his life, Nancy McMullen. After graduation, he then went to the University of Florida, where he graduated with a degree in Business Management in 1953.
Karl married Nancy McMullen on December 28, 1953 and then went on to serve as a pilot in the United States Air Force (Captain). In 1958, Karl went to work for Honeywell Industries in Clearwater, Florida for 6 years where he worked on the team building the inertial guidance system for the Apollo Space Project. He had an aspiration to own his own business, so in 1964, he purchased a Ford dealership in Tarpon Springs. For 54 years, Karl Flammer Ford has been a highly respected fixture in the Tampa Bay area. Karl later purchased three other dealerships: in 1979, Flammer Brown in Hudson, Florida, Flammer Beckford Ford in 1987, and in 1988, Flammer Ford of Spring Hill.
Karl shared a love of boating with his wife, Nancy, and started Flammer Viking Yacht Sales, in Dunedin, which he owned for 16 years. Karl is remembered as a hard working, honest, and ethical businessman, that cared deeply for his community. He enjoyed boating, traveling in his motorhome, and the Florida Gators.
He was a proud supporter of Florida Gator academics and athletics. He and Nancy chaired a professorship for the Department of Information Systems at the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida and Karl was a Bull Gator for 16 years. Karl is preceded in death by his wife Nancy, of 65 years, his parents Russell and Marguerite, and his brother, Richard Flammer. He is survived by his two sons, Jim (Diane), Mark (Tammie), four grandchildren, Meghan Purvis, Jessica Flammer Koch, Grant Flammer, and Erick Flammer, and one great-grandchild, Braxton Purvis. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 18th from 5-8pm, at Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, 2853 Sunset Pt. Road, Clearwater, Florida. A private family graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 19th.
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