Karl MARCUS

1936 - 2021

KARL MARCUS April 8, 1936 - January 30, 2021 Born in Hamburg, Germany on April 8, 1936 to Franz and Anni (Schmidt) Marcus, Karl Josef did not have an easy childhood. He and his sister Elisabeth were evacuated to Bavaria in 1941 and did not return to the ruins of Hamburg until 1946. At ten years old, Karl began school full time and had to work hard to catch up, while also helping to provide food for his family. During his years of high school and business education he worked at an interior design studio, under Mrs. Emmy Behrmann, who became his mentor in both business and the arts. In 1956, having just graduated, Karl received his draft notice from the new German army. Before the reporting date, a few days hence, he pursued his dream and left for Canada. Ambitious, hardworking and always believing that he could find a better way to do any job, Karl worked briefly in Toronto, followed by five years in two different mines, Renabie Gold Mine and Dyno Uranium near Bancroft, Ontario. There, in the village of Wilberforce, he met his future wife Carol Herlihey. He moved to Toronto and later Montreal, employed by Norden Building Products, and quickly climbed the corporate ladder, finding innovative solutions to various problems along the way. In 1966 he started Kargo Stairs with his partner Bruno Gottwald. His dream was to manufacture kitchen cabinets, and this he achieved on his own with the incorporation of Canac Kitchens. His artistic sense, business acumen, and problem solving abilities made Canac an industry leader. Under his direction it grew to become the largest kitchen cabinet manufacturer in Canada, with associates throughout North America and elsewhere. He was a demanding but fair employer who always said that his employees worked with him, not for him. Following a six-way bypass in 1996, Karl sold Canac. Karl married the love of his life Carol Jean in 1965, and her parents, Harold and Bea Herlihey, became his Canadian parents. He was a devoted father to his two children, David and Jean, who were born in 1969 and 1971. Karl and Carol Jean had a shared love of adventure and many of their family trips focused on downhill skiing, sailing, scuba diving or cycling. He learned to fly and three times crossed the Atlantic in his own airplane, as well as twice in a small catamaran. Karl cared deeply, had an innate sense of fairness and honesty and set exacting standards, both for himself and others. Though often tough on the outside, he had a kind heart, and was generous to those less fortunate. He left no small detail unattended, and was an inspiration and mentor to many of those he set up in business. He loved to dance, took great pleasure in art and music and was an exceptional story teller. Karl embraced all challenges with courage and determination, appreciated every achievement and lived life to the fullest. Throughout his later life he had many medical challenges, including heart disease, cancer and Parkinson's disease, all of which he dealt with stoically. His last medical challenge was a large undetected aneurysm. On January 30, 2021, he died peacefully at home, surrounded by Carol Jean, his wife of 55 years, his son David Marcus, daughter Jean Marcus, daughter-in-law Radha Chaddah and two granddaughters, Kaya Marcus and Ania Marcus. His son-in-law Dasz Garncarz and youngest granddaughter Alexandra Garncarz remained in Vancouver due to Covid, but were there in spirit. Also left to mourn in Hamburg are his sister Elisabeth Goldbach, brother-in-law Werner Goldbach, neice Brigitte Goldbach, cousin Margot Marcus, and lifelong friend Waltraut (Behrmann) Oppelt. In Canada, he will be dearly missed by his brother Hans Marcus, niece Bianca Marcus (Greg Cumming), nephew Andrew Marcus, sister-in-law Gloria Stepanek (Paul), and nieces Heidi (Peter Dixon) and Holly Stepanek. He loved, and was deeply loved by, his family. Cremation took place on February 4. There will be a memorial service and celebration of life once the pandemic has passed. The family wishes to thank his devoted caregivers, doctors, the ICU staff at the Mississauga Trillium Hospital and LHIN Toronto Central who made it possible for Karl to come home.