Karl Matthew Todd III

I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning
breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch her until at length, she is only a
speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky meet
and mingle with each other. Then someone at my side exclaims,
“There, she’s gone!”
Gone where? Gone from my side, that is all.
She is just as large in hull and mast and spar as she was
when she left my side, and just as able to bear her load of
living freight to the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says
“She’s gone.”
There are other eyes watching for her coming
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout,
“There she comes!”

Karl Matthew Todd III, 75, was born June 22, 1948, and passed into grace on December 3, 2023. Karl was one of 6 children in the family home and the eldest boy. He was the best big brother to his younger siblings, going so far as feeding us bites of apples that he had chewed for us so we wouldn’t choke on them. He spent many and more hours taking care of us and giving the gift of his time and attention. Karl attended Beulah school where he played on the basketball team. The last time I was at the school the trophy with his name on it was still in the case. He spent his high school years at Pueblo Catholic High School, where he learned to speak Latin. As an adult, he would use that skill to tell children in Latin “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” Many parents asked for a translation, and Karl never disappointed. He made lifelong friends at high school and enjoyed the occasional lunch with them as he was able. He attended college at CU Boulder where he was enrolled in the physics program. He had a brief stint as a Marine and when he came home he went to work as a lineman for Mountain Bell and retired some years ago. Along his life path, he acquired a lovely stepdaughter, Jamie Jo, who 40-plus years later still considers Karl as her father and loves him as he loved her. Karl had two natural-born children, James (Mari) Lucas and Jessica. They were his heart’s delight and the joy in his soul and he never stopped loving them for one minute. His children were with him in his mind, heart, and spirit until his last breath. Also left with cherished memories of Karl as a father figure is Mandi, who loved Karl like his daughter. She invited him into her home for the holidays, which was his favorite time of year and made him a part of her family as well. The best part for Karl was having the opportunity to bond with her children and pass on more love to them. Karl always loved children and Christmas. Among the many people we met as a part of this adventure we called “life” a few stand out from the others and became more than a friend and more like brothers with a special bond. For Karl, that guy was Rick, a stalwart friend of 60 years. Rick was there for Karl through thick and thin. He always had Karl’s back and had his best interest at heart. Rick was the last person Karl spoke to on the phone and whatever he said made Karl laugh which was great to see. Rick was a rock to Karl but to me and Flora he is a rock star.

Karl was preceded in death by our father, James Jay; mother, Georgia; and siblings, Sandra and Silas. The remaining siblings, Bonnie, Wayne, and Flora mourn our brother’s passing but rejoice in the fact that he lived a good, honest life. Also left to remember their uncle with loving thoughts are his nieces and nephews, Midnight, Joshua, Santana, Ronna, Daniel, Timmy, Maggie, Amber, Nicholas, Krystal, Kendra, Kyle, Jamie and Jason. Karl died with no regrets, having made amends to the best of his ability. He passed peacefully with dignity and grace. A light has gone out in the universe and the world is missing a hero. God’s blessings on you dear brother. Nil Carborundun illigitimi