Karl Kalamaja

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for KARL G. KALAMAJA ,79, at 10am Friday, April 29, 2011 at St. Rose Catholic Church with The Reverend Michael Carr officiating. Karl died at his home in Torrington surrounded by his family on April 22, 2011 and cremation has taken place. Memorials can be made to either St. Joseph’s Childrens Home or Prairie Haven Hospice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Karl was born May 9, 1931 in Dortmund, Germany and came to the US in 1953. He lived in Michigan where he met and married Wilma Lommerse on October 1, 1955. He worked for General Motors as a model maker for eighteen years. The family moved to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming in 1971 and he opened Karl’s Kabinets. They moved to Florida in 1985 where he taught carpentry and mill-work for ten years at Edgewood Children’s Ranch, then two years at Westside Vo-Tech. After seventeen years and retirement the moved to Torrington, Wyoming where he continued to enjoy carpentry, fishing, painting, reading, gardening especially flowers, and cooking. Karl was a Christian, husband, father, grandfather, friend and so much more to so many. How can one come up with just the right words to describe the passing of someone who had touched the very soul of our brief existence so profoundly. Someone who bestowed upon us the knowledge and legacy we are now expected to bestow upon others. A knowledge gained through life’s experiences, study, failures, and triumphs. In each one of us who has met Karl there will always be a part of him, a legacy as you will, be it small or large. Somewhere down the line maybe a brief moment, we stop, think, and remember. He has not really left us. He will always be there in whatever he was to you. We got to grow with and experience Karl for a brief moment or a lifetime. We will surely miss him for our brief stay on earth but will see him again in Heaven. Thank you Dad for the pleasure but this is not goodbye. Karl is survived by his wife Wilma of Torrington, Wyoming; children, Madeleine Jacobs (Jack) of Torrington, Eric Kalamaja (Julie) of Pilate, Virginia, Joyce Hobbs (Richard) of Torrington, Ron Kalamaja of Casper, Wyoming, and Anita Taylor (Darrell) of Sanford, Florida; eight grandchildren; one great grandchild; and a nephew Joe Frigge (Teresa) of Paris, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Magda; a daughter Angela; and two grandson Jordan and Jason

Karl Kalamaja

May 9, 1931 - April 22, 2011