Karl G. Erickson

ERICKSON, Karl G.
Kalamazoo Passed away Friday, November 2, 2007 at his home in Kalamazoo, after a long battle with Alzheimer?s. Karl was born May 28, 1925 in Flint, the son of Elta and Aida Van Tassell Erickson and had been a Kalamazoo resident since 1958. Karl served his country in the United States Navy during WW II. He received his law degree from the Detroit College of Law in 1951. That same year he joined the labor relations staff of the Chrysler Corp. in Detroit. In 1958, he started in private law practice in Kalamazoo and in 1980, he was elected to the first of two terms as an 8th District Court Judge, retiring in 1992. He represented Eastside residents in the late 1960?s in their battles with the City of Kalamazoo concerning the sludge pits. He also represented Westside citizens and the Firefighters Union for several years, where he was made an honorary member of the Kalamazoo Firefighters. Karl was a member of Westwood United Methodist Church since 1958, where he served on the Board of Trustees, was a Sunday School Superintendent, chairman of the Memorial Committee and made two, week long summer trips with the youth group to Appalachia service projects, repairing homes in Kentucky. Karl was a member of the Masonic Lodge, where he was elevated to 33rd Degree Mason in 1966. He also served as a past President of the Kalamazoo Suburban Lions Club, was active in the Boy Scouts where he trained leaders and was a past President and member of the advisory board of Child Guidance Clinic. On November 28, 1946, he married the former Evelyn Ann Hosler, who survives. Also surviving are their children, Alan Erickson and his wife, Suzzanne Duff of Kalamazoo, Sandra Matthews and her husband, Michael Duceatt of Portage and Ralph Erickson and his wife, Cheryl of Galesburg; 5 grandchildren, Rebecca Matthews and her fiancée, Douglas Dircks, Steven, Jason, Christopher and Matthew Erickson; two brothers, Maxell Bernice Erickson of Flushing, MI and Conroy Mary Ellen Erickson of Schaumburg, IL; nieces and nephews. Following a private family committal service at Ft. Custer National Cemetery, a memorial service will be conducted at 1:00 PM Friday, November 16, 2007 in the Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road, with Pastor Wayne Price officiating. Following the service, the family will greet family and friends in the Fellowship Room of the church, where light refreshments will be served. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Alzheimer?s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871, Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or the Westwood United Methodist Church. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. www.langelands.com 343-1508