Karl Andrew Spiegelhoff

Karl Andrew Spiegelhoff, born November 30, 1935, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 86 years of age, passed away on December 17, 2021. Karl lived in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin at Shorehaven. Before residing at Shorehaven, Karl was a long-time resident of Delafield, Wisconsin. Karl is survived by his daughter, Tracey Klein (Rick); and his son, Charles Spiegelhoff (Cherlyn). Karl is also survived by his two grandchildren, Lauren and Alex Klein; his cousins, Gerald Peterson (Elizabeth) and David Peterson (Linda); as well as his nephew, Russ Lein (Jeana); and his nieces, Julie McQuestion (Sean) and Jill Reitz (Mark). Karl grew up in West Allis, Wisconsin, surrounded by his loving parents, Gladys and Hugo Spiegelhoff, and his beloved aunt and uncle, Ida and Giles Davis, who lived down the street. He grew up attending Green Bay Packers games at Milwaukee County Stadium. Karl attended Nathan Hale High School in West Allis and then Carroll College in Waukesha. Karl was an expert photographer all through high school and college. Karl loved to hunt in central Wisconsin with his friends and also often hunted out west in Wyoming with his uncle, Lawrence Peterson. Upon graduation from college, Karl became a manager of the Men’s Store at Marshall Field’s in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and ultimately worked his way up to the position of store manager. Karl was often promoted because he was patient with staff members and helped them learn new technology. It was at Marshall Field’s that Karl met his wife of 34 years, Arlene Kirsten. Arlene also worked at Marshall Field’s in millinery. After retiring from Marshall Field’s, Karl started a second career as a chef and owned his own restaurant, the Butler Chuckwagon. Karl also served as a chef for a local long term care residential facility in Delafield, Wisconsin. After Karl and Arlene were married, the two of them built the house of their dreams on a 2-acre wooded lot in Delafield, Wisconsin. Planting trees and gardening became big hobbies for both of them. Karl and Arlene loved to cook using the fresh produce from their garden. They were known for putting on elaborate gourmet meals at holidays or on special occasions when family members were in town. Karl and Arlene traveled the world. In the years before Arlene’s death in 1998, they traveled to Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. When Arlene was diagnosed with cancer, Karl turned their wooded lot into a butterfly garden where Arlene could rest outside. After Arlene passed away, Karl continued to travel with his long-time friends, Ned Atwell and Janet Wintersburger. Karl loved nature. In later years, he turned his driveway into an animal cafeteria. At night, Karl would put outs scraps of food and turned on the outside lights so that he could sit with his grandchildren and watch all the different animals that would visit his feeding station. Karl volunteered at the Wildlife in Need Center in Waukesha, rescuing wild animals in distress. In his later years at Shorehaven, Karl continued to enjoy bird watching and the family arranged for colorful flowers, a butterfly house, a bird feeder and a bird bath to sit outside his window. He loved animals. As his health failed, Karl remained the center of the family. He called family members wherever they might be in the world to check on weather and the updates to their lives. Karl was a kind and steady presence always there to help and support. Until the end, Karl was known for his very dry sense of humor. He was known for his clever jokes, said with a wry smile on his face. Throughout the later part of his life, his beloved son, Chuck, was a daily presence at his side, fulfilling his every need. They spent many hours together, watching the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Tracey did her part to bring him fond memories and joy. Karl died a happy man, having had a life well lived. We are confident Karl was greeted in heaven by his wife, Arlene, and they are together happily looking at the trees they planted in their Delafield yard. We will follow Karl‘s wishes and hope to have a private memorial with family and close friends and a dinner to celebrate his life in the warmth of early summer.