Karl Donald Rehak (9/1/34-10/3/22). Lover of love. Lover of life. Lover of culture, classical music and the arts, especially photography. Most of all, Karl loved his beloved wife Margie (nee Ginnever), to whom he was married for sixty years before her passing in January 2021. Father of Stacie (Craig) Murphy, Leslie (Paul) Rehak, Carrie Rehak, and Kevin (Josette) Rehak. Grandfather to Katie Murphy and Marcus DeSoto. Uncle. Nephew. Friend.
Karl was born to Helen Krotos, who, as an adoring single parent, raised him to adulthood from his infancy. Hungarian was the language of his youth, spoken in his Pittsburg, Pennsylvania home until his grandmother passed away when Karl was age ten. Although he no longer spoke Hungarian, the culture, particularly csárdás dance and music, and the rich cuisine, remained an important part of his life.
At age eighteen, he and his mother drove out west to California. Before he completed a degree at UCLA, IBM recruited Karl, where he served in various capacities, including systems engineer, before retiring and moving with Margie from Woodland Hills, CA, to Las Vegas, NV. Karl’s computer expertise was recognized in professional publications and on “Ask the Experts.” Karl was a CB (“Sidewinder”) and ham radio (WD6BVE) operator. He was also a lifelong Steelers fan.
Karl was loved by many, including the caring staff at Aegis Living in Ventura and Assisted Home Health and the angels at Hospice, who tenderly cared for him and Margie during the last years of their lives. Karl will be remembered as kind-hearted, humbly intelligent, and quietly comedic, and for being madly in love with his wife Margie through thick and thin, as expressed in this email to their grown children in March of 2014: “This picture was taken when your mother was about 25. We only had two of you at that time. The picture was taken in the front yard of our second home on Myers Street in Burbank. The lamp in the background was a gift from Grandpa. Can there be any doubt that for me it was love at first sight? I am still in love with her- it has only grown deeper. How blessed I was and continue to be.” May they enjoy their reunion.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at Boyko and Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura on Thursday, October 20th, at 11:00 AM.
Karl’s ashes will be interred with Margie’s in a private ceremony at the Carpinteria Cemetery District. In his memory, please consider making a memorial donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Arrangement are under the direction of the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, 15 Teloma Drive Ventura.