Karl David Klicker

Karl was born at Chelsea Naval Hospital, Chelsea MA, just north of Boston on April 20, 1955. He attended five elementary schools in California before the family settled in Minnesota. Karl attended grades 7 & 8 in Detroit Lakes MN and graduated from Fergus Falls (MN) Senior High School in 1973.

He received his BA in English from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX , an MA in English from the University of Southern California, and his Doctorate in Education from Ball State in Muncie, IN. More recently, Karl earned an MS in Entrepreneurship from University of South Florida in Tampa.

Karl enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in July,1973. He graduated from boot camp at MCRD San Diego, the top graduate in his platoon, then attended the School of Music at Little Creek, Virginia. After graduation Karl became a field musician first for 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune NC, followed by 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa. When he reenlisted the first time, Karl left the band to move into Data Processing: he attended school at Camp Pendleton, CA. During that tour he accepted entrance into Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP). He attended Texas A&M University receiving his BA in 1979. From there Karl went to MCRD Parris Island, SC where he became editor of the Parris Island BOOT, the base newspaper. His next tour was in Okinawa where he managed the Base Education office. At his next duty station, he became an Instructor at the School of Journalism at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. During which time he accepted a commission as an Ensign in the US Navy and completed his doctorate. He stayed in the Navy 6 years during which, among other things, Karl was stationed on the USS Nimitz out of Whidbey Island, WA. After his stint in the Navy Karl returned the Marine Corps as a Captain, attending the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Center at Dam Neck VA. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1995.

For ten years Karl worked in the corporate sector, including some time with General Motors before heading south to Houston. He started his own business, Lazer Consulting, bringing the Marine Corps Leadership Principles to corporate America while continuing other work obligations. He eventually accepted a position with a DoD contractor and spent sometime working on education at NASA.

Duty called again in 2005 when he was recalled back to active duty in the Marine Corps. Karl traveled extensively throughout the middle east including a tour in Falluja, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He retired again in 2008.

After his second retirement Karl went back to working with DoD contractors, coming to Tampa in 2008. He was working at MacDill, AFB until shortly before his death.

Karl loved to write and was self-published; some of his work is available on Amazon and includes some writing too deep for the rest of us, and a children’s book. In recent years his focus was on children’s books and stories. He was even learning how to write a screenplay. He loved to grill! He had a knack for making the whole neighborhood smell great; everything that came off the grill was perfection. Karl loved to travel by any means. He loved road trips and would go a moment’s notice, but sailing and the water was a long-time love that he enjoyed with Teresa. He and his daughter, Ari, went to school together to obtain their sailing licenses.

Karl is survived by his wife, Teresa of Tampa and their children Kristian (Theresa) and two grandsons, Kameron and Konnor, of Fargo, ND, Kyle (Jennifer) and granddaughter Keely of New Bern, NC, Ari (Zack) of Sevierville, TN, Erik (US Navy) and Ally of Tampa. He is also survived by brothers and sister, Mark (Elaine) of Spring Hill, TN, Kurt (Jill) of Aitkin, MN, Pete (Kathy) of Wesley Chapel, FL and Kristi Angus (Jonathan) of Fergus Falls, MN. He is also survived by an aunt, Phyllis Villemaire of South Dennis, MA and uncle Eddie Villemaire (Donna) of Marshfield, MA and several nieces and nephews.

The service will be Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 10:30am at Messiah Lutheran Church, 14920 Hutchison Rd. Tampa, FL 33625. A light lunch will follow. No jackets required. Karl’s ashes will be spread on the Gulf of Mexico by his wife and children so there will be no internment.

Gifts are up to the givers:

Donations can be made in Karl’s name to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation via their website: https://www.mcsf.org/donate/ or by mailing a check to the address on the website.

We recommend Carrollwood Florist for plants or flowers.