(December 21, 1923 - June 16, 2017)
Karl Monk has passed away peacefully into the presence of the Lord at 93 years young. In his last days, he was surrounded by his loving family and many friends. Karl was born in 1923 in the town of Holeby, Denmark, and had six siblings. As a teenager, he took a four-year apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Carpenter. This was followed by intensive training at a Tradesman High School where he earned his Master Builder certification in 1943. During this time, he lived through Occupied Denmark (April 9, 1940 – May 5, 1945), and took an active role in the resistance movement in the last two years of WWII. In July 1945, Karl was called to serve with the Royal Danish Guards. This was a great honour for him, and the Royal Danish Guard membership and gatherings were always an integral part of his life in Canada. After a stint of working in Switzerland, Karl immigrated to Canada, landing in Halifax in 1951. Karl then worked his way across the country, ending up in Fruitvale, BC, in 1952. Karl soon after met and fell in love with Charlotte Chisholm, a high school home economics teacher, who had volunteered to teach him English. Karl and Charlotte were married on August 22, 1953. Their three children Marie, Suzanne, and Peter were born and raised in Fruitvale. Karl was an involved businessman and an active member of the Fruitvale community. His first business of building homes started in 1958, and then Karl Monk Sash and Door became a mainstay of the community from 1961 to his retirement in 1991. He was a committed Rotary member who served in many positions, including President, during his 35 years in the Beaver Valley chapter. Karl and Charlotte were also recognized in 1982 as the Beaver Valley Citizens of the Year—a great honour for them. Some of their many community efforts included running a gymnastics club, coaching soccer teams, starting the school Unicef program, building a ski hill on Beaver Mountain, and supporting/renovating the Fruitvale Lutheran Church. Retirement to Victoria saw Karl enjoy his ongoing membership in the Pacific Northwest Guard Association, participate in the BC Seniors Games in track and badminton, become an active member of the Sidney Lutheran Church—which included a major building renovation—and spend time with friends, neighbours, and family who would visit regularly. Karl was a man of deep faith and gave thanks to the Lord for Charlotte, his family and friends, and the many gifts that enriched his life. Karl is survived by his loving wife Charlotte (married 63 years), children Marie (Frank) Ehrenreich, Suzanne (Gerrit) Galesloot, Peter (Elizabeth) Monk, and his grandchildren Erin, Gerrit, David, Matthew, Thomas, and Juliana. His honesty, integrity, loyalty, humour, and love of good stories will be dearly missed. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 7, 2017, at 2:00pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 2295 Weiler Ave., Sidney, BC, V8L 1R9. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the BC Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences to the family may be made at: www.dignitymemorial.ca