Karl Louis Krusmark Jr.

DEMOPOLIS Karl Louis Krusmark, Jr., 77, of Demopolis, passed away Friday, January 9, 2009, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, January 12, 2009, at Kidd-Robbins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Tommy Carr officiating and Kidd Robbins Funeral Directors of Demopolis directing.

Mr. Krusmark was born on June 11, 1931, in Casper, Wyoming. He is preceded in death by his parents, Karl Louis Krusmark, Sr., and Charlotte Mueller Krusmark; one brother, Lee Mueller Krusmark; and one grandson, Jason Anthony Morgan.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty Jean Holmes Krusmark, and six children: Deborah Jean Hilderbrandt (Jim) of Fairhope; Charlotte Ann Vollnogle (Jon) of New Waterford, Ohio; Karla Irene Bahr (Mike) of Hoover, Alabama; Karl Louis "Butch" Krusmark, III, of Demopolis; Laura Lea Morgan (Joey) of Demopolis; and Kristina Lynn Krusmark (Michael Buchanan) of Homewood, Alabama. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Megan Gardner (Scott Weinstein), Anna Hilderbrandt, Gerald Wilhelm (Betsy), Kimberly Wilhelm Louk (Josh), Hannah Vollnogle, Christopher Bahr, Lauren Bahr, Leslie Bahr, Amanda Krusmark West (David), Kurt Krusmark, Carrie Morgan, and Laura Kathryn Morgan; and by one sister, Irene Krusmark Colwell (Walt) of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Mr. Krusmark was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming and Brigham City, Utah. He graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City in 1949, and attended Utah State University. He then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended flight school at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. While stationed in Pensacola, he met Betty Jean Holmes of Brewton, Alabama, and they were married in Brewton in 1952 after he was commissioned as a Naval officer. Mr. Krusmark served as a Navy aircraft carrier pilot during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of lieutenant j.g. After receiving a degree in business administration from the University of Alabama, he moved his family to Demopolis, Alabama, in 1962 to operate Krusmark Oil Company. Mr. Krusmark and his wife grew their business to include a gift shop, plant nursery, landscaping service, and floral design service and, working together as a family, continued to own and operate their business as Country Garden & Gifts until their retirement in 2001.

Mr. Krusmark was a dedicated husband to his beloved wife Betty and a loving father and grandfather to his 6 children and 12 grandchildren. He was a skilled horticulturist, woodworker and craftsman, and a friend to all creatures, great and small. His kind and gentle nature will be missed by all who knew him.