Obituary for Karlheinz G. Schoenfeld
Karlheinz Georg Schoenfeld, 86, of Wappingers Falls, NY passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Vassar Brothers Hospital.
Karl was born in Laichingen, Germany on February 23, 1937, son of the late Erich and Anna (Erz) Schoenfeld.
Karl married the love of this life, Lore Denz, who survives at home, on August 26, 1960 in Öhringen, Germany.
Before emigrating to the United States in 1956, Karl learned his trade as a tool and die maker. He continued his trade working in the industry in New Jersey where he also attended Stevens Institute of Technology. He was drafted into the Army, but was relieved of his duty and sent back to working on gimbals - devices for guidance systems for rockets and missiles - a critical skill in a fledgling industry.
In 1964, Karl accepted a job with IBM and moved his family to Wappingers Falls. He continued his engineering career at IBM for almost 30 years where he was a Senior Advisory Engineer. After a short retirement he went back to work for IBM as an engineering consultant.
Karl was involved with many different organizations within the community. When his son was young, he volunteered his time with the Indian Guides and the Boy Scouts. He was an active member of The Mended Hearts Chapter 5 for many years, where he helped to make heart-shaped pillows for heart surgery patients. He was an active member of the Steuben Society and Germania of Poughkeepsie where he could be found volunteering his time in the kitchen or working the soda truck during Oktoberfest.
He was a parishioner at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Karl’s main squeeze (besides his wife Lore) was his accordion which he played frequently while Lore sang along. Karl loved to tinker on his cars and in his workshop. He also enjoyed woodworking and built various furniture pieces and cabinets.
In addition to his wife Lore, Karl is survived by his four children Fred, Ellen, Karen and Andrea, with her husband Bassel, his sister Sonja and brother Bernd, both of Germany, and predeceased by his brothers Rudi, Alfred and Fred. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews in Ohio, NC and Germany.
The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the members of Germania for their unending support, Arlington EMS First Responders, the Arlington Fire Department and the Poughkeepsie Police Department for their quick response and for their dedication and commitment to their work.
A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Wilbur Blvd, Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM.
Karl was born in Laichingen, Germany on February 23, 1937, son of the late Erich and Anna (Erz) Schoenfeld.
Karl married the love of this life, Lore Denz, who survives at home, on August 26, 1960 in Öhringen, Germany.
Before emigrating to the United States in 1956, Karl learned his trade as a tool and die maker. He continued his trade working in the industry in New Jersey where he also attended Stevens Institute of Technology. He was drafted into the Army, but was relieved of his duty and sent back to working on gimbals - devices for guidance systems for rockets and missiles - a critical skill in a fledgling industry.
In 1964, Karl accepted a job with IBM and moved his family to Wappingers Falls. He continued his engineering career at IBM for almost 30 years where he was a Senior Advisory Engineer. After a short retirement he went back to work for IBM as an engineering consultant.
Karl was involved with many different organizations within the community. When his son was young, he volunteered his time with the Indian Guides and the Boy Scouts. He was an active member of The Mended Hearts Chapter 5 for many years, where he helped to make heart-shaped pillows for heart surgery patients. He was an active member of the Steuben Society and Germania of Poughkeepsie where he could be found volunteering his time in the kitchen or working the soda truck during Oktoberfest.
He was a parishioner at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie, NY.
Karl’s main squeeze (besides his wife Lore) was his accordion which he played frequently while Lore sang along. Karl loved to tinker on his cars and in his workshop. He also enjoyed woodworking and built various furniture pieces and cabinets.
In addition to his wife Lore, Karl is survived by his four children Fred, Ellen, Karen and Andrea, with her husband Bassel, his sister Sonja and brother Bernd, both of Germany, and predeceased by his brothers Rudi, Alfred and Fred. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews in Ohio, NC and Germany.
The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the members of Germania for their unending support, Arlington EMS First Responders, the Arlington Fire Department and the Poughkeepsie Police Department for their quick response and for their dedication and commitment to their work.
A funeral service will be held at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Wilbur Blvd, Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11:00 AM.