October 19, 1941 ~ May 10, 2013
Karl Alan Willey, 71, of Caldwell, Kansas passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack on Friday, May 10, 2013. Karl was born in Wellington, Kansas, the second of 3 sons to Warren F. and Alice (Jenista) Willey on October 19, 1941. He began his career in the grocery business as a young boy, working for his father at the Quality Food Market and later at Teel’s IGA. He graduated in 1959 from Caldwell High School. He married Linda Wooderson, his high school sweetheart on July 9, 1961. Karl and Linda began their life together in Wichita, Kansas, where Karl worked for Safeway. Their two daughters Kimberly and Sherri were born in Wichita. Their young family then moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and later to Oxford, Alabama. Every move was to a different job in the grocery business. In 1974, he made the decision to return to Caldwell to achieve a dream of owning his own grocery store when he purchased Detrick’s. He was active in the community by being involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Sumner County Fair Association, Caldwell Alumni Association, Lion’s Club and Sumner Lodge #203. He was a member of the Central Christian Church. Karl was a member of the Oklahoma Grocer’s Association and Associated Wholesale Grocers organization. He enjoyed his grandchildren, traveling, fishing , hunting and his pet dachshunds (John & June).
Karl was preceded in death by his parents, Warren & Alice. Survivors include his wife Linda and his daughters Kimberly and her husband Jerry Nimitz of Medford, Oklahoma; Sherri and her husband Rick King of Wichita, KS; five grandchildren, Richard S. Crumbliss and his wife Jill, Natalie King, Kami Nimitz, Will King and Max King; two great grandchildren, Piper Crumbliss and Richard A. Crumbliss; two brothers, Paul Willey and his wife Diane of Dallas, Texas and Daryl Willey of Dallas, Texas; three nephews, Wayne Willey of Dallas, Texas, Warren Willey of Dallas, Texas and Joseph Willey of Boise, Idaho and their families.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2013 at the Central Christian Church in Caldwell.
Interment will be in the Caldwell City Cemetery, Caldwell, Kansas.
Memorials may be given in Karl's memory to the Central Christian Church.
Leave Condolences
Condolences
Curt and Donna
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda...so sorry to hear about Karl's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
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Robert and Marla
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda
I am sorry to hear about Karl. Our prayers are
certainly with you and your family. Steve always
thought so much about him and appreciated him
for his first boss.
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Norman and JoAn Metcalf
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda, so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family and lots of prayers go your way.
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Warren, Meredith, Molly, and Morgan Willey
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
My Uncle Karl was a hero to me from the time I was a little boy. He always had a smile, a pack of candy, and a sense of encouragement. My memories of Karl over the past 40 years are all great. He loved his family and friends. I cherished our annual pheasant hunt and all of my friends who met him considered him their friend too.
Uncle Karl is a legend amongst my closest Dallas friends.
He was always amused by them too...
"I suppose" is a quote we stole from Karl and continue to use daily.
His love of Linda dating to high school was incredible.
He always boasted of Kim, Sherri, Rick and Jerry and all of his grandchildren. He was proud of them all.
His brothers both thought the world of him.
He was a true friend.
We will miss him forever.
He was a great husband, father, dad, grandfather, friend, advisor and businessman.
He made me proud of my last name and our Kansas heritage.
Rest in peace Karl; your great attributes will live on through us. I already miss you - Warren
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Laverne Chapman
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda & family
I am so sorry for your loss. Karl was such a great man. I loved working for you and him, he had a great personality and was a wonderful boss. He will be greatly miss. My prayers are with you and your family.
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Jack and Carol (Davis) Wiens
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Linda and your family. I have fond memories of the neighborhood and going to school together all those years. Karl would trade comic books with others, but he had some I sure didn`t want! He will be missed.
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Lucille Wolff
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda and your family, My love and prayers are with you and your family. Karl was a special Caldwell person with a great family.... We all will miss him.
My love. Lucille & family
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Joe and Johnette Martin
Family and Friends - 05/11/2013
Linda, our prayers are for you and your family. God bless.
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Mrs. Terry Riney (Henton)
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Linda, Kim, Jerry & Family:
My thoughts & prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. Karl always brightened my day with his smile & the tip of his head in acknowledgement of seeing people. His kindness and generosity to the community was unsurpassed by any others and he will be tremendously missed by many. I hope your great memories as a family give you all comfort in the days ahead. God Bless....
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Randy McNett
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Linda & Family,
So sorry for your loss. My Thoughts & Prayers are with You and Your Family. Karl will be missed by all!
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Sondra Fisk Rogers
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
I am sorry for your loss. Sondra
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Jan McDaniel
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
I was sorry to hear about Karl's death. He will be greatly missed in Caldwell as well as by your family. My prayers are with you.
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Steve and Susan Arnold
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Linda, Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you and the family in this time of sorrow.
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Debbie Barnes and family
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Our heartfelt condolences go out to you, Linda, and family. Our community has lost a wonderful man, great businessman, and a friend to our family. We wish you the Lord's blessings and the Grace of HIs unending Love
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Jim & Dana Spencer
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Linda, Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you and the family in this time of sorrow. We enjoyed traveling with you & Carl on retailer trips and serving with Carl on the OGA Board.
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Joe and Elena Willey
Family and Friends - 05/12/2013
Linda and family, you are in our prayers. Eventhough I was not near by most of my life, I have fond memories of my visits with you and Karl when I was a child. Karl you will be missed.
Joe, Elena, Brett, Ian, and JD
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Kathy Risley
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Our community has lost a wonderful man and we, personally, have lost a true friend. I can't imagine not having his great smile and greeting when going
downtown Caldwell. We are thinking of you Linda, Kim, Sherri and all the family.
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Kevin and Ginger LeCounte
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Linda, Kim, Sherri and family please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
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Oma Lea Rogers
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Your Medford friends send condolences to Karl's family. Karl and Jerry ran a great grocery store and we miss their friendly smiles and jokes. May God's blessings be with you at this sad time.
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Kelli Barton
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Linda & Family,
I'm very sad by the news of Karl's passing. Although I did not know him for long, I could tell he was a very smart and witty man, that did so much for many people. I can only imagine how much he'll be missed by the Caldwell community. May his memory live in you forever.
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Phyllis Wooderson and Janelle
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Linda and family
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
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Gina & Jim Powell
Family and Friends - 05/13/2013
Linda & Family, Our thoughts and prayers are with all your family. We will surely miss Karl, as he was such a wonderful and kind person. I really enjoyed visiting with him outside the store. He always took the time just to visit and always had a smile. God bless all your family.
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H. L. Bumgardner, OD, Wichita
Family and Friends - 05/14/2013
Linda and Family:
I only heard about Karl's passing today. Whenever I saw him on my office schedule I tried to have a joke ready as I knew I would get one from him. He seemed always to be "on-the-go" and a true workaholic. When he was able to retire he seemed SO much more relaxed. I wish he could have had a few more years and I wish I would have taken him up on his offer to go fishing.
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Sandra (Ryland) Leight
Family and Friends - 05/15/2013
I will always remember Karl as the ornery kid who lived across the street from us. He gave my brother, Kenny, a "haircut", much to my mother's dismay and skinned a skunk in the backyard. He was a great guy and did a lot for Caldwell and his family. He will be sorely missed. RIP, Karl!
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Carol Jenista Jacobson
Family and Friends - 05/26/2013
Linda, I am so very sad to learn of Karl's passing. He was such a great guy who contributed enormously to the Caldwell community.
We used to have such fun times at Grandma Jenista's Thanksgiving feasts and horsing around at the Willey house while our folks played canasta. I always enjoyed popping in to visit with Cousin Karl whenever I was in Caldwell. It was a rare occasion when he wasn't back in his little office at the store, working away.
I share a wish with several others that he might have enjoyed more years of retirement after such diligence throughout his life, but God in His wisdom has called him to glory while we can only wait to join him there.
My heart goes out to you, dear Linda and family. May God wrap you in His blanket of comfort at this very challenging time.
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Ellsworth Family
Family and Friends - 05/27/2013
Didn't know call for long or really that much, but from what I did know, he was a great guy. Always willing to open the store early or stay late when I needed formula or diapers for my kids. He will be missed.
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Steve Adams
Family and Friends - 06/03/2013
My deepest sympathies in this time of loss go out to you Linda, Kim, and Sherri. Linda, thank you for sharing the story of how you and Karl came to owning the store in Caldwell. You may not remember telling it to me, but I'll never forget it. Always love replaying it in my head...
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Sonya Kloeeefkorn
Family and Friends - 06/15/2013
Dear Linda:
I am so sorry to hear of Karl's passing. I remember
getting to know your "group" of the car club when I was
dating Eddie Ehlers, & remember of sitting next to you
in band. Karl always had a smile on his face, as Mom & I (Irene Kloefkorn Lungren) would go to the store whenever I went to visit her.
May God bless and comfort you in the time to come.
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Janet Vandruff
Family and Friends - 06/21/2013
Linda, I have to hand it to you and Karl. You two ran a fine grocery store for small town living! I hope you're some how still getting to enjoy your retirement!
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Rod and Jackie Reusch
Family and Friends - 06/22/2013
...Linda and family...I just learned of the passing of Karl...we extend our sympathies to you all...I had the privilege of working with Karl and Linda twice in my/our grocery careers, and enjoyed working with the Willeys on both occasions. You and the grocery industry will miss Karl. Our prayers are with you.
