Father Victor “Vic” Karls C.Ss.R., 82, of Liguori died April 2, 2025, at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community in Barnhart. Father Karls graduated from St. Bernard Grade School and briefly attended St. Francis Seminary. After graduating high school, he tried a few careers, including in the grocery and furnace businesses as well as a year at the University of Wisconsin, but eventually settled on vocation and went to St. Joseph's College in Edgerton, Wis. He began his career at Mount St. Clement’s in De Soto and studied theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc, Wis., as well as at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, N.Y. He was ordained as a priest on June 26, 1970, by Bishop Leo J. Brust D.D. of Milwaukee, Wis., in the chapel of Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, Wis. Following his ordainment, he served in the Amazon region of Brazil alongside Father Joe Butz. Upon his return, he was briefly assigned as director of Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Fargo, N.D., before being appointed administrator of St. Joseph's Preparatory College in Edgerton, Wis., in 1976. Once St. Joseph’s closed, he was appointed director of Villa Redeemer Retreat Center in Glenview, Ill., in 1981 where he served for eight years until being elected consultor of the former St. Louis Province leadership team in 1998. After completing his term in office, he was appointed to Liguori Mission House in Liguori where he remained for the next 35 years. In Liguori, he worked in circulation of Liguori Publications where he started the Liguorian Associates program which promoted the Liguorian flagship magazine. He was also a local superior of the Mission House community for more than 20 years. He started the Liguori Mission Team to preach parish missions across the country in 2008. In addition, he raised money by preaching for Cross Catholic and Food for the Poor, and he helped out local parishes and nursing homes, the St. Louis Airport, Mercy Hospital and the prison in Bonne Terre. Born Aug. 19, 1942, in Madison, Wis., he was the son of the late Clara (Foss) and Herbert Karls.
A vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, April 11, at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community Chapel, 300 Liguori Drive, in Barnhart. Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12, in Liguori Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.