Obituary for F. Karl Neumann Forrest Karl Neumann, 87, of Traverse City died July 9, 2018 at Munson Medical Center with family by his side. Karl was born on October 7, 1930 in St. Louis, Missouri to the late Metz and Ruth McGhee Neumann. The family lived in Centralia, Illinois where he attended grade school and worked with his father at the local S.S. Kresge’s Five & Dime store.
Karl graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. He then furthered his education at Northwestern University where he earned his master’s degree in Hospital Administration. Karl served our country honorably as an officer in the United States Air Force.
In early September of 1954, a mutual friend arranged a blind date for Karl to play tennis with a beautiful young woman named Erika Stefanie Turkl. Even though he was soundly defeated in their first match, they became engaged in November and married February 11, 1955 on a cold, snowy evening in Chicago, Ill. Together they raised four children.
After 58 years of marriage, Erika preceded him in death in January of 2014. Karl and Erika moved to Lansing in 1958 where he began his career with Edward W. Sparrow Hospital as assistant director. In 1962 he was named President and Chief Executive Officer and remained at Sparrow until his retirement in 1990.
During his tenure, Sparrow grew to include residency training programs for physicians in partnership with MSU, breakthrough programs in cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, NICU and various special care programs were developed for both inpatients and outpatients. There was continual expansion under his leadership including new buildings and property acquisition. As the hospital continued to grow, so to did the complexity and diversity of the business which is now known as Sparrow Health System.
In 1990, Karl retired, and the West Wing was named in his honor, now known as the Neumann Wing. He genuinely cared about helping people. After his retirement from Sparrow, Karl became the CEO of the Michigan Hospital Association of Insurance Companies.
MHAIC helped provide malpractice insurance for hospitals throughout Michigan that could otherwise not afford the increases in coverage. In his younger years, Karl enjoyed playing tennis, water skiing and golf. He relished spending time with his close friends and entertaining.
Like Erika, he too delighted in being at their Siesta Key, Florida home. Karl had a wonderful passion for music – particularly the jazz music of Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. He liked musicals and was often heard humming and singing to his friends and family with the tunes from his favorites like the Camelot, My Fair Lady and West Side Story.
He particularly loved Christmas and his annual caroling parties in Tacoma Hills where he and friends would serenade neighbors with joyous holiday music. Karl often attended Edgewood United Church would take his children on Sunday trips to the Kresge Art Gallery, Fenner Arboretum, Potter Park Zoo with the finale being an ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins 31 flavors. Karl was a voracious reader his entire life.
His retention of historical events was remarkable, he particularly enjoyed US Presidential and political history. Each day, Karl read the Wall Street Journal, cover to cover. He always had a stack of books on his desk that included a vast array of subject matter that he was working through and that he enjoyed discussing.
He is survived by his children Tracey (Dennis) Neumann Liberson of Great Falls, VA, Karen Neumann Kruger of San Mateo, CA. , Scott Neumann of Traverse City, MI and Lisa Neumann of East Lansing, MI; grandchildren Daniel, Hanna and Alexa Liberson, Erika and Maximilian Kruger and Matthew Neumann; siblings Ruth Sower of Philadelphia, PA, Linda (Ron) Severn Baugher of Lyle, ILL, Kathryn (Allen) Schultz of Boston, MA and Michael (Linda) Neumann of Somers Point, NJ There will be a memorial service in the fall to honor Karl’s life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Traverse Health Clinic www.
traversehealthclinic.org Please visit www. reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories and condolences with the family. The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
