Karl Merwin Walker 11/28/1937 – 4/7/2021   Karl was born November 28, 1937, in Pontiac, Michigan, the only son of Charles M Walker and Ivalyn (Mary) Pfister.   He cultivated his profound sense of independence from his youth. He often told stories of hopping on trains with his friends and riding into Detroit to watch baseball games at Tiger Stadium, one time even falling asleep on the train and ending up in Ohio! His biggest adventures came when his dad would drop him off on the State land two miles from his home, where he would camp all weekend, just hunting rabbits and "living off the land." He loved telling the story of saving the life of a young girl who fell through the ice while on one of his winter camping trips.   Karl graduated from Pontiac Central High School in 1956. During that time, football was one of the only things that mattered to him. In fact, as a life-long Detroit Lions fan, in 1962, he tried out for the team and was told that if he were to move to Minnesota, he would probably start for the new expansion team there—the Vikings. He declined because his heart and home was in Michigan, and if he couldn't play for the Lions, he didn't want to play for anyone else.   Karl married Sidney Elizabeth "Beth" Walker on August 25, 1956, in Pontiac and was stationed at Twenty-Nine Palms, California, after enlisting in the Marine Corps. While in the USMC, Karl earned a Rifle Expert badge and completed Cold Weather and Survival training in the mountains (possibly Sierra Nevada Cold Weather Training Center-CWTC). He always credited his camping in the winter as a youth to his success in this course.   After completing his service, Karl and his wife settled in Michigan. If you knew him, you already know that he absolutely loved and enjoyed spending time with his family. To hear him talk about them made you feel as if you already knew them. They were his proudest accomplishment.   A life-long hard worker, Karl provided for his family however he could, whether it was working for Universal Oil Seal, Pontiac Motors, or even serving on the Pontiac Police Reserve Force. In 1972 he began his career as a well driller. That occupation would bring him and his family to Wisconsin in 1978, where he eventually became self-employed as owner and operator of Walker Well Drilling until his retirement in 2002.   At that time, he and his wife fulfilled a dream of theirs to move to the upper peninsula of Michigan and lived in the Manistique, MI area for several years.   Karl spent the last few years as a resident of the Veteran's Home at King, WI, where he endeared himself to the staff with his continued independent personality. He was pronounced dead at 8:16 a.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, due to complications resulting from his advancing dementia.   Karl was preceded in death by Beth, his wife of 50 years, and his parents.   Karl is survived by his children Kathleen "Kathe'" (Tom) Ray of Novi, MI; Rebecca "Becky" (Kevin) Darrah of Reedsburg, WI; Bruce (Michelle) Walker of Grand Marsh, WI; Tammy (Bill) Henke of Reedsburg, WI; Brian (Rhonda) Walker of Friendship, WI; Jennifer "the miracle baby" (Jason) Udell of Portage, WI; 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.   A meal is planned for the immediate family with no structured service included.