Karl Manseth

Service information:Memorial will held at 3pm followed by a Celebration of Life at 4:15 at the Oregon Electric Station.Memorial Bench Information:Contributions to the ‘Karl Manseth Memorial Bench’ can be made at: www.paypal.me/karlmansethbenchKarl loved life and lived it to the fullest. Born November 13th, 1944 to Magnus & Esther Manseth, he was brought home to the home his father built on the road his mother named; ‘The Farm’ as the family referred to it, on McKenzie View Drive in Eugene, OR. The farm was always ‘home’ to Karl. Restoring the house to its original glory in the early 90’s, Karl took pride in keeping the farm beautiful and could often be seen out mowing the fields on his John Deere. It is only fitting that he was able to spend his final days enjoying the place he loved so dearly.Karl was a trailblazer! Anything but practical, Karl dreamed big, lived large and experienced it all. He completed his bucket list before that was a thing. What Karl set his mind to happened. He built several successful businesses, created new industries and was an inventor with several patents. Karl loved boats, planes (Officer in the Confederate Air Force), Music (worked for ABC Records then owning his own music business for 22 years) and traveling… But most of all he loved learning and experiences. He worked to expose his children to the things he loved and taught them the desire to keep learning. Traveling, boating, camping, skiing, hunting, fishing & crabbing to name a few. Karl’s love of travel was ignited at the age of 10 crossing the Atlantic sea to Norway with his father. An experience he shared taking his own children years later to Norway as well as Asia, Europe, The Mediterranean and Middle East. Karl especially loved warm beautiful beaches, traveling regularly to exotic locations like Trinidad, Cancun, Cozumel, Hawaii and finally to his last destination and lifelong dream of visiting Panama and the Panama Canal. Although his favorite trips were to the San Juan Islands where he used his Commercial Yacht Captains rating to charter large dual engine boats where he served as Ship Captain for family excursions.Karl graduated from North Eugene High School in 1962 and from the University of Oregon in 1969. He then married his lifelong best friend, Donna. They had two children, Kim & Hans. Although they divorced after 15 years, Karl and Donna remained close friends and spoke daily.Karl touched many lives. There isn’t a person who knew him who doesn’t have their own ‘Karl Story’. Karl was bigger than life and he’ll be missed deeply by his family and those whom had the fortune of knowing him. Karl is survived by brothers Bob Manseth, Arny (Nancy) Manseth, Best friend, Donna Ambrose, Children, Kim (Kelly) Darden, Hans (Kristi) Manseth and grandchildren, Shea & Calvin Darden and Lewis & Camille Manseth.A Memorial Service (3pm) followed by a Celebration of Life ceremony (4:15) will be held at the Oregon Electric Station Sunday, Nov 13th (Karl’s birthday). The family welcomes stories either written or spoken at the Celebration. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the ‘Karl Manseth Memorial Bench’ which will live along the banks of the McKenzie at Armitage ParkKarl Joseph Manseth was born November 13th 1944 and passed away September 27, 2016 at the age of 71.Karl grew up on McKenzie View Drive in the house his father (Magnus) built on the road his mother (Esther) named. Karl lived his last days on that same farm and continued the over 100 year legacy of our Norwegian family living there; a place similar in beauty to Norway itself.We look forward to celebrating his life on what would have been his 72nd Birthday, Sunday, November 13th. Please share your stories and memories of Karl here and/or at his memorial. We look forward to reading and hearing stories/memories of our father.Below is a brief overview of what Karl wrote for his 50th class reunion 4 years ago. We think you will enjoying reading about his life from his perspective.Warm Regards, Hans Manseth & Kim DardenKarl J Manseth Class Reunion 2012I have been enjoying retirement for over 15 years now and it certainly has given me more time for my favorite hobbies.Being a Norwegian I love the water and boating. From the time I was a child I knew I had a calling to it. By the time I was 13 and had earned my commercial Salmon boat license to skipper and spent my weekends hopping from boat to boat. It was only natural then that once my brother Arny and I discovered the San Juan Islands, we would be lifelong fans and return again and again. Being retired has given me the opportunity to spend much time on and near the water. Since our last reunion, I earned my commercial Yacht Captain rating so that I could charter large dual-engine boats for the family and be our Captain. Between myself, my brother Arny, his son Craig and my son Hans, we were able to crew the yacht ourselves. We enjoy living on crab, driving through the docks and admiring the beautiful ships. We have been boating in the San Juan Islands for over 30 years now; there is nothing like quality time with family on the water. This has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life. I also have a passion for the Caribbean and have become somewhat of a ‘local’ visiting these tropical paradises. I have enjoyed challenging myself to living like a local and it is amazing what a great lifestyle I enjoy on a budget! Although I don’t make it every year, I try to travel down south for 2 to 3 months a year during the wintertime.When I am home in Eugene at the family place on McKenzie View Drive, I spend my time enjoying and caring for the land. (In the late 1990’s I completely remodeled & renovated the family home and built a home for my mother to live in next door; I was lucky to have her around until after her 100th birthday in 2005). On any given sunny day you are likely to see me out mowing the fields on my John Deere with my grandsons following me around on their own mini John Deere ‘Gator’. I enjoy watering the lawns and keeping the place looking sharp. If I’m not out enjoying the land there is a good chance I am with my grandsons’ Shea (7) and Calvin (5) at the Swim and Tennis Club playing in the water with them or at the BBQ making dinner.My children and grandchildren love to spend time at the family ‘farm’ and bring friends out to enjoy it as well. We created a camp ground like area on the back side under a canopy of 100 year old maple and oak trees; we appropriately named it ‘Solace’. My daughter loves to have events with 25-100 people out ‘Mock Camping’ where they do all the things they would do camping but everyone is able to drive home and sleep in their own beds at night. It’s become quite a hit. I love seeing the place appreciated nearly 100 years after our family settled on this land.Overall, life has been good to me and I have had a lot of great experiences that some would only dream of and I feel very fortunate. I have built several successful businesses and was my own boss for most of my life. I have had the opportunity to live in Norway as a child, traveling by boat with my father and years later take my own children back to Norway for an extended vacation to learn about their heritage. I have taken my daughter to Asia and my son to Europe & the Middle East. I have been to countless tropical designations and have plans to visit more. I have a wonderful daughter whose family lives just miles away and I get to spend time with regularly. I have a successful son living in Portland who is engaged to be married to a lovely young woman with her doctorate this fall. I enjoy driving up to Portland meeting him at our favorite restaurant overlooking the river and catching up. I feel so lucky to have grown up in such a great community and have gone to school with and known such a great group of people. I am looking forward to catching up with many of you at the reunion this summer as well as read all about what you have been up to.Updates since this was written•Karl visited Panama after this letter was written and realized his lifelong goal of seeing the Panama Canal.•Hans and his wife Kristi have since had a son, Lewis (2 ½) and is looking forward to the arrival of his baby girl any day now.