IN REMEMBRANCE: Fr. Victor Karls, C.Ss.R.
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April 22, 2025Fr. Victor (Vic) Karls suffered a series of strokes and died on April 2 after a brief time in hospice care at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Barnhart. A prayerful and dedicated Redemptorist missionary, Fr. Vic was a gifted preacher who always made himself available to minister to the People of God.Victor Herbert was born to Herbert and Clara (Foss) Karls on August 19, 1942 in Madison, WI. He knew that he wanted to be a priest at an early age and entered St. Francis Seminary in nearby Milwaukee after graduating from St. Bernard Grade School. He left after a year, and tried a few careers after he graduated from high school – the grocery business and following in his father’s footsteps in the furnace business, and he even considered pursuing business or medical school. He completed one year at the University of Wisconsin, but ultimately answered his vocation call.
He was on the train enroute to St. Joseph’s College in Edgerton, WI in 1962 when he learned that his father had died after a long battle with cancer.A responsible and serious student, Vic was well-liked by his peers. He proceeded to novitiate at Mount St. Clement’s in DeSoto, MO and professed temporary vows on August 2, 1965. Vic began his theological studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc and professed perpetual vows on August 15, 1968. He continued theological studies at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, NY and was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1970 by Bishop Leo J. Brust, D.D. of Milwaukee in the chapel of Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, WI.Newly ordained Fr. Vic was nominated from his class to serve in the Amazon Region of Brazil. When the Provincial Superior of the former St. Louis Province learned that five confreres were leaving the mission, Fr. Joe Butz was chosen to accompany him.
The country was under a military dictatorship, so it took about six months to navigate government and Church protocols before they arrived in Belem, Amazonas. They had no Portuguese language skills, but met with a tutor for an hour every week. Within four months Fr. Vic was sent to Codajás, where he spent a few months before he went on to Manacapuru. He served there for three years, but the isolation and harsh living conditions were so detrimental to his health that he returned to the United States in 1975.Fr. Vic was assigned briefly as director of Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Fargo, ND before he was appointed Administrator of St. Joseph’s Preparatory College in Edgerton, WI in 1976. Declining enrollment sealed the fate of the institution, which was closed four years later.
Fr. Vic was appointed Director of Villa Redeemer Retreat Center in Glenview, IL in 1981. He served as superior of the local community for one term, and continued as Director for a full eight years until he served as Consultor of the former St. Louis Province leadership team from 1988 until 1990. After completing his term in office, he was appointed to Liguori Mission House in Liguori.Fr. Vic began by working in the circulation department of Liguori Publications, where he started the Liguorian Associates program, hiring people all over the country to solicit magazine subscriptions with personal phone calls.He also brought the magazine renewal effort in-house when preachers weren’t able to visit parishes every year. He was so devoted to the flagship magazine that he preached for Liguorian every weekend for many years.
Fr. Vic was a respected and effective local superior of the Mission House community for more than 20 years. “Vic was strong-willed and determined; a natural leader and a good community man. Jim Gleason said Vic was the best rector he ever had,” explained Fr. Joe Butz. “Vic was a people person, very gracious and concerned about everyone – especially the underdog – and he never said ‘No’ to an assignment.”
He started the Liguori Mission Team to preach parish missions across the country in 2008. As the years wore on, he continued to raise significant amounts of money preaching for Cross Catholic and Food for the Poor, one of the largest hunger relief organizations in the world. When travel became difficult, he focused on helping out at local parishes and nursing homes, the St. Louis Airport, Mercy Hospital and Missouri’s Bonne Terre maximum security prison. Fr. Vic was very well known in the St. Louis area, and will be remembered for his exceptional homilies and ministry to the People of God.Confreres, family and friends gathered at St. Clement’s on April 11 for a 3:00 pm rosary and 7:00 pm vigil service. Provincial Superior Kevin Zubel presided at a 10:00 am Mass of Resurrection on April 12, followed by burial at the Liguori Cemetery.Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.(Photos courtesy of Archives and Br. Paul Yasenak.)