Karl Friedrich Herbst Jr. came into this world August 1, 1924 in Halle Saale, Germany, the son of Karl and Elsa Herbst. In 1927, at the age of 3, Karl and his parents immigrated to America, passing through Ellis Island. The family joined Karl’s uncle and family who had come to America a few years earlier.
Karl grew up as an energetic and inquisitive child. He enjoyed his childhood in Mt. Vernon, New York. German was spoken in the household until one day Karl came home from school and asked his parents to stop speaking German. He told them they were in America and they should speak English.
He found his share of mischief. He enjoyed throwing his cousin’s Irma’s dolls off the porch. He and his cousin and best friend Paul, spent lots of time in and around the trolley car barn yard as it was the cool place for two boys be around. He was a fun loving and cheerful child always with a smile on his face. That upbeat attitude continued through his life-Karl was a lovable guy- always with a smile.
He worked part time with his uncle as a delivery man during high school. He played basketball and football at Mt. Vernon’s Edison High School. He also played for a semipro football team. Immediately after graduating high school in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country in the Pacific for 3 years. He was a signalman first class aboard the aircraft carrier USS Monterey. He and the ship survived the war with kamikaze attacks and a typhoon thrown in. He set foot on Japanese soil at the end of the war as part of the U.S. post war efforts in Japan.
After his naval service, he came home, put the war behind him and looked to the future. In a letter from The Secretary of the Navy after his discharge, Admiral Forrestal said, “I have addressed this letter to reach you after all the formalities of your separation from active service are completed. I have done so because, without formality but as clearly as I know how to say it, I want the Navy’s pride in you, which it is my privilege to express, to reach into your civil life and to remain with you always.” Karl took those words to heart and got on with his life. He attended and graduated the New York Trade School and worked at various odd jobs. He got a job with NY Telephone in 1947. He also worked part time at a local drug store selling ice cream at the counter.
While there, his friends and he were talking about an upcoming Halloween party at their church. They told Karl that he should ask Helen Gertz to the party. Helen and Karl had known each other casually, as they went to the same high school and their families belonged to the same church. They had mutual friends and had attended the movies together and had visits to a mutual friend’s family pizza parlor. Helen and Karl became a steady couple and continued dating. By then he was working as a telephone installer. Karl then decided to propose, Helen accepted, they got engaged and were married in 1948.
They began their life together and after a short time of living with Helen’s parents, they got an apartment and then they bought a grand old house known as “118 Vista Place”. Karl and his father-in-law “Pop” Gertz, along with family friends as subcontractors, quickly put the house in order and made improvements. Karl and Helen decided to rent out rooms to supplement the telephone company’s salary. The improvements consisted of turning the first floor into a family residence, and floors 2 and 3 into room to rent. Karl continued to install phones and Helen was the landlady as they began their life together as homeowners.
Every Sunday they went off to Glen Island for swimming and family picnics. Douglas joined the family in 1951 when it was time to add a room onto the first floor for the expanding family. Karl, Pop Gertz and their friends added a room for Douglas . In later years, that learned knowledge came full circle when Karl was there for Doug when Doug bought another nice old house in Suffern. Doug restored and improved that house with Karl’s help and experiences.
The proud parents’ lives revolved around the family. In 1954 Karl and Helen welcomed their son Glenn- and Doug’s room became Doug and Glenn’s room. Karl and Helen’s life truly became focused as they raised their children in a very loving and hands on manner- they did everything as a family. There were frequent visits with relatives and many family friends. Holidays were always spent with grandparents, Uncle Bill and Auntie Ollie, Sugar, Billy and Darlene. There were trips to Sherwood Island every summer weekend, (with Douglas and Billy racing to get the first row picnic tables). On occasion there were visits to Jones Beach; the ocean and the waves were always special.
In 1961, Karl and Helen decided it was time to move to the “burbs” and they bought a house in Port Chester, NY. Once again this house needed some work from Karl. The entire back of the house was pushed out and a dining room, expanded kitchen, basement and a giant sized new bedroom upstairs were added. The Sherwood Island and Jones Beach family excursions continued in summers and there were always weekend visits with family.
Karl joined the Port Chester volunteer fire department, and began 28 years of membership and service, eventually rising to becoming the Captain of Reliance Engine and Hose. He kept his Captain’s badge in his pocket well into the 2000’s. He continued to work at the telephone company and for a time was luckily enough to be based in Port Chester so his commute was a short one. He enjoyed Little League and Boy Scouts with his sons. Summers included more of those waves at Jones Beach. Always proud of his country, the family took unforgettable summer family vacations- tours of New England, Florida, Williamsburg, the Finger Lakes of New York, and Ohio. The best vacation was one month long tour of the great western National Parks. In later years, the family with family and friends, rented houses along the fabulous beaches in Long Beach, NC.
Helen and Karl’s sons graduated high school and went off to college. Glenn was first in Minnesota moved to Alaska for 20 years and then back to northern Wisconsin in pursuit of his dreams and with a successful life in law enforcement. Karl and Helen regretted the distance between them but nonetheless continued their love long distance and cherished their visits to Glenn, Kari and the boys. Doug stayed close to home and settled in Suffern, New York. Karl and Helen watched as Doug and Celie raised a family and got to share many of the girls’ happy moments.
After 38 years with the Telephone Company, Karl decided to retire in 1985. He became a handyman to keep busy. After a few years of that and after a visit to NC to see some friends, they decided to officially retire there to enjoy the beaches they had grown to love. In 1990 they bought a piece of property in Calabash North Carolina and built their dream house, complete with an indoor pool! (Karl’s doctor said swimming was the best exercise for his knees when he was questioned about that indoor pool.) They enjoyed the best years of their lives visiting the ocean as much as they could- happily it was just down the road. Every day in North Carolina was like an extended summer vacation. On sunny days Karl would love to take his float and ride the waves. They made lots of friends. Their cousins, seeing the good life they had, followed them there- building houses in the same neighborhood.
With lots of free time, Karl and Helen began the next phase of their lives together with lots of trips to visit friends and enjoying three cross country trips to visit National Parks. While at home they played frequent card games and eating out became the order of the day. The highlights of those years always were when the children and grandchildren would visit. In 1998, the whole Herbst family came to Calabash to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.
In 2002 they decided to move to Texas. They made some friends, joined the senior citizens group, and continued to enjoy card games. Relatives and friends from around the country stopped by to visit them. They enjoyed being closer to their granddaughters and got to see them both graduate Texas A&M (whoop!)
In 2008, Leslie got the idea and with Sara’s help, got all the grandchildren to Texas for a visit to Nana and Pop Pop. It was kept a surprise. First Jonathan and Peter arrived and then James and when each walked in with Sara and Leslie, Nana and Pop Pop just about fainted. They were truly elated and felt blessed to have all their grandchildren together. Sara and Ryan were married in 2006 and PopPop and Nana welcomed great- granddaughter Reese in Oct 2007.
The circle of life continues, great granddaughter saying “I love you Pop Pop”. We all love you Pop Pop!
Karl Herbst was part of the greatest generation. He loved his country and obsessed about the American flag flying unfurled outside his house. As soon as it got tangled up, he was out there making it straight again. The standard Christmas gift to him in the last few years was a new American flag.
He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle and a friend to so many. He was a happy-go-lucky guy who always had a smile on his face and was always there to lend a helping hand. We enjoyed good times and good cheer and always felt truly blessed with his life and family. We will never forget you. God Bless you Karl Herbst.
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