A graveside service for Karl Thomas Hurd, 94, who passed away December 20, 2021, will be held Friday, May 27, 2022, at 11 a.m., at Ash Point Cemetery, in Owls Head.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter &  Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland, ME.

To share a memory or condolence with Karl’s family, please visit their book of memories at bchfh.com.

OWLS HEAD — Karl Thomas Hurd, 94, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2021, after a brief illness.

Karl was born September 26, 1927, to Margaret (Sullivan) and Harland H. Hurd in Rockland, Maine. He was the second, of three children and the only boy.

Karl was predeceased by his parents; his sisters Madeline and her husband, Charles Pine, of Browns Mills, New Jersey; and Christine and her husband, Jack LaFlamme, of Old Town, Maine.

Gonkey, as he was called by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many others, is survived by three daughters, Carol and her husband, David Martz, of Rockland, Maureen Hurd of Thomaston, and Diane and her husband, Frank Henderson, also of Thomaston; grandchildren include Jessica Martz, Jennifer Martz, Erin (Haskell) and her husband Ethan Aiken, Colleen (Haskell) and her husband Ian Anderson, Brian Haskell, Meredith (Joyce) and her husband James Fales, Keenan Joyce, Lindsey(Joyce) and her husband Phillip (PJ) Spearing, Alayna Joyce.

Also included is step-granddaughter Rebecca Henderson; step-great granddaughter Laney Fales; great granddaughters Liana Fales and Margaret (Maggie) Anderson; several nieces and nephews; as well as two very close, “adopted” daughters Priscilla (Randall) Davis and Marla (Harkins) Manz.

Karl was born in Rockland, into a family with a strong fishing history. He spent many summers on Dix Island, in the Mussel Ridge Islands. He started lobstering as a young boy, rowing a small boat, from trap to trap, to haul. As he grew, into a young man, he spent many long hours helping his father weir fishing and stop-seining, for herring, in many of the local harbors including Rockport, Glen Cove, and Owls Head.

After graduating from Rockland High School, Karl enlisted in the Navy, with his parent’s permission as he was only seventeen years of age. During WWII he was stationed in Washington, DC. While in the Navy, Karl would often visit his sister Madeline in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After his discharge, he stayed in Pittsburgh to work. It was during this time; Karl met and married the love of his life, Alice Ann Nash. Alice Ann and Karl were married in Pittsburgh, June 4, 1955. They moved to Rockland, to raise a family, in 1957, and finally to Owl’s Head, Maine in 1959.

During this time, he helped his father with the fishing business, while earning his teaching credentials and started teaching. He taught two years in Friendship and then moved to the Rockland Junior High, where he enjoyed teaching sixth grade, until he retired, in 1989.

Karl enjoyed spending time with his daughters and the many nieces and nephews who always seemed to be visiting. The door was always open and there was always a warm welcome.

During his years of teaching, Karl continued to lobster summers, and each year increased his number of lobster traps, until in 2011, when he chose to stop lobstering to care for his wife ailing wife, Alice Ann. During the following years visits, by friends and family became the highlight of his days, as he spent time with them and enjoyed their visits. When Karl lost his Alice Ann August 7, 2019, a bright light went out of his life. He welcomed their great-grandchildren with joy, but without her, by his side.

Visitors were the highlight of his days. He especially enjoyed visits by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to watch them grow and make new accomplishments. He was proud of every one of them. Karl stayed healthy and active. At ninety-four, he still had his driver’s license, passing the vision and road tests, required by the state. In his later years, he didn’t drive very far or very often, usually just to the harbor to “see if the water was still there!”

He also liked to see which boats were out, and which way the wind was blowing.

After a brief illness, Karl left this world to join his Alice Ann in heaven surrounded by the love and care of his family and special “adopted” daughters. They were all able to share a few minutes and final words of love with him. It was only after hearing the voice of his last visiting grandchild that he slipped away.

Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, December 28, 2021, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, ME.

A Celebration of Karl’s Life will be held Wednesday, December 29, at 11 a.m., at the same location. Interment will be at the Ash Point Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the AIO Food Pantry, P.O. Box 113, Rockland, ME 04841 or the Good Shepherd Food Bank, PO Box1807, Auburn, ME 04211

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland, ME.

To share a memory or condolence with Karl’s family, please visit their book of memories at bchfh.com.