Karl W. Ebel, 77, of Estes Park, died at home surrounded by his family on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005.  He was born Dec. 29, 1927, in Hillsboro, Kan., to Arthur W. and Louise Schaeffler Ebel.  He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1945 and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of Kansas in 1949 and 1955 respectively.

Karl and Beverly Weinbrenner were married in Hutchinson, Kan. on April 17, 1949.  The following summer Karl played semi-pro baseball in Nebraska and Iowa.

Karl first taught and coached high school in Winside, Neb., in 1949-1950.  He and Bev then moved to Bloomfield, Neb.,where Karl taught in the classroom and coached high school athletics for four years and played semi-pro baseball in the summers.  From 1955 to 1961 Karl taught and coached in Baxter Springs, Kan.  The last four years there he spent as principal of Central Elementary School.

In 1962 an opportunity came to become elementary school principal in Estes Park, a position he held for 16 years.  He then taught social studies in Estes Park Middle School and assisted in high school coaching duties until his retirement in 1987.

For many summers between school sessions Karl worked in Rocky Mountain National Park as a trail crew foreman and horse packer.  Retirement in 1987 gave Karl the opportunity to be a self-described “golfaholic,” his driving passion, with summers spent on the Estes Park Golf Course and winters on the links in Arizona.

Surviving are his wife Beverly; five children and their families. Brad and Brenda, Denali Park, Alaska; Cameron and Angie, Carrollton, Va.; Diana and Fran Marcoux, Belgrade, Mont.; Stephanie and Monte Hurt, Oakley, Utah; and Mollie and Keith Nelson, Mansfield, Texas. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Maddie and Austin Ebel; Jason, Michele and Cameron Marcoux; Alayna and Aaron Hurt; Kyle and Karlie Nelson.

Karl was a long time member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church where a memorial service and reception will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.

Memorials may be made through Allnutt Funeral Service, Estes Park, to the following: Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, EPMC Hospice of the Estes Valley or the EVRPD Junior Golf Program.