Karl Krout

Karl W. Krout, age 62, beloved son of Joyce (nee Swanson) and the late Charles G. "Chuck" Krout. Loving brother of Keith (Jane) Krout and Karen Krout. Cherished uncle of Kevin and Dan. Dear nephew of late Claude Krout, Doris (late Wally) Sheard, late Don McKinzie, Lloyd Krout, late Ken (Harilyn) Krout and late Carol (Don) McCrory. Fond cousin of Todd (Trish) Krout, late Wayne Sheard, Jana (Dave) Keener, Nancy (Robert) Scott, Mike (Cheryl) Sheard, Lance (Christie) Krout, late Brian Krout, Glen (Monica) McCrory and Dale (Holly) McCrory.

Karl is also survived by his life-long best friends and second brother Charles and Stacy Thomson. Karl also wanted to recognize long-time friends including: Duane and Jan Wolff, Joe and Marie Guzzo, Dawn and Dan Jaroszewski, and extended family Sara Kandl, Mark and Shannon Holzrichter, Tim and Janelle Peterson, Bill and Aileen Halvorsen, Grace and Jerry Trantow, Lisa and Gene Sire, “Admiral” Matt and Stephanie DiMarco, Dave Paton, Bob and Karen Urso, Sue Skraba, Lilia (the late Francisco) Manalo, ninong to Earl (Jes) Manalo, Kelly Manalo, Pam and Arnel Martin, ninong to JR (Mai) Martin, Ashley Martin, Maria (Andrei Requina) Suarez, ninong to Gabriella Requina, Bernadette and Ernie D’Agnello, Cheryl Douglas, Monica (Larry) Rodriguez, Maria Tarsitano, Oxana Dorfman, Mon and Beth (Bernardino) Roldan, Cleo and Jerry Ferguson, Dulce and Andre Rajchwald; also cherished friends from groups to which Karl belonged at The Bethlehem Lutheran Church Family of Faith, The Good Shepherd Family of Faith, The Christ Lutheran Family of Faith, The Chicago Chapter of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Volleyball Lifers and EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association); also treasured work friends Pam (Vince) Landolina, Carolyn (Danny) Yelick, Steve (Dan Staublin) Karthan, Stacy (Ron) Menigoz, Teresa Fluegel, Bob Blessman, Liz Grant, Jeff (Julie) Martin, Ed and Peggy Holmes, Bob (Kelly) Siembida, Matt Gordon, Stacie Romano, Mark and Debbie Wright, Mike and Barb Zimmerman, Larry (Patty) Minton, Paul (Chelsey) Dadamo, Laura (Mike) Travers, Greg and April Barrett.

Born in Chicago, Karl was a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was an unwitting participant in the “Champagne rainstorm” created by thousands of bottles being popped open and sprayed inside of U of I’s Assembly Hall. Few attendees were spared a damp day and many umbrellas were present to witness the event that caused school administration to consider cancelling indoor graduation ceremonies for good. They were not happy.

After school, Karl built careers in banking, software consulting, IT Outsourcing, and IT Professional Services. Karl requested that a very special “thank you” be extended to his most recent employer, Commvault Systems, for the support, assistance, and genuine care and love shown during the last three years of health challenges.

Karl was passionate about life, consumed it in large quantities, and always looked for new opportunities to feed his passions. Volleyball, bicycling, golf, landscaping, and photography were favorite activities. Karl loved going out with friends to enjoy eating good food and drinking good wines, realizing that he was a born “bon vivant”, a lifestyle he cultivated throughout his adult life. This also led to enrolling in cooking classes and attending a 40-week program to become a sommelier through Chicago’s Kendall College.

Karl was a proud member and officer of the Chicago Baillage, or chapter of The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the world’s oldest international gastronomic society, founded in Paris in 1248.

Karl was gifted with a quick wit and dry sense of humor and loved it when people couldn’t figure out whether he was joking or being serious.

Aviation and space were lifelong interests since the early 1960’s and he was a witness to the first moon landing. Karl was given the thrill of a lifetime when Red Bull offered him a seat in one of their aerobatic planes for a 45 minute demonstration flight, during which he executed a full routine including rolls, loops, flying knife edge and inverted, and performing the beautiful hammerhead.

Although he never became a pilot, Karl was a lifetime member of the EAA, attended the annual EAA AirVenture convention and airshow as often as possible and once flew on the EAA’s B-17, “Aluminum Overcast”. Over the years, Karl was privileged to meet aviation legends R.A. “Bob” Hoover, Buzz Aldrin, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, Jim Irwin, Gene Krantz, John Young, Bob Crippen, Joe Engle, Michael Goulian, Kirby Chambliss, Felix Baumgartner, and Chuck Aaron, among others.

Thanks to his aunt and much to the lifelong chagrin of his younger brother who couldn’t go and later became and remains a huge fan, Karl was able to greet the Beatles at Midway Airport the first time they visited Chicago.

Karl loved to share his talents and good fortune with charities, especially the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, UCP Seguin, and Fun Time Academy. He loved bidding at auctions and was especially good at “helping” other attendees open their wallets and purses when they didn’t think they could. At an auction to support a private school where his friend was the principal, Karl entered the bidding for a $100 guitar that Chicago Bears legend Steve “Mongo” McMichael just purchased at Guitar Center, played in performance for the event with his band, autographed, and donated for auction. After a lengthy two-party bidding “war”, Karl finally stopped at $1,500 and watched as a rabid fan proudly took away her prized instrument, case not included. Thank you, rabid fan, wherever you are!

Karl doesn’t remember when he started, but he has always done his best to live by “the Golden Rule”. And for all kindnesses shown to him throughout his lifetime, Karl practiced “pay it forward”. This expression and actions describe the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others rather than paying it back to the original benefactor. Karl found these two actions to be extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Practicing a “random act of kindness” toward another is a great way to get started, and continuing to “pay it forward” throughout life will enrich your life and the thousands more who have been the beneficiaries of your good deeds.

Karl was passionate about blood donation, both as a donor and blood drive organizer and gave over 35 gallons in his lifetime.

Several years ago, Karl did a personal assessment and determined that he could honestly say that he lived a good, full, and well-lived life. Karl wishes everyone the same joy and satisfaction in their own lives.

Visitation Friday, February 16, 2024 from 3-9PM at Colonial Chapel 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. Lying in state Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 7800 W. McCarthy Rd., Palos Heights, IL 60463 from 9:00AM until time of Funeral Service 10:00AM. Interment Christ Lutheran Cemetery, Orland Park, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 7800 W. McCarthy Rd., Palos Heights, IL 60463 or Christ Lutheran Church, 14700 94th Ave., Orland Park, IL 60462 are appreciated.

Below is a photo tribute celebrating Karl's life.



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