Ralph J. Karl OMI

Rev. Ralph J. Karl, OMI, 79, died after a brief illness at the Regency Hospital in Middleburg Heights, OH on August 20, 2009. He was born on June 8, 1930 in Cleveland, OH, the son of Fred E. and Dorothy May (Ralph) Karl.
Fr. Karl entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in September
of 1951, making his first vows on September 8, 1952 in Ipswich, MA. He was Ordained to the priesthood at the National Shrine in Washington, DC
on June 8, 1957 by Bishop John Michael McNamara.
He received his Bachelor's degree in philosophy at Our Lady of Hope College, Washington, DC and a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology at Catholic University also in Washington, DC.. He held a Master's degree in Pastoral Psychology from Ashland Theological College in Southfield, MI.
Fr. Karl's first assignment in 1959 was to St. Bridget's in Indianapolis, IN where he was based while ministering as a chaplain at Indiana
University Medical Center, Marion County General Hospital, LaRue Carter
Psychiatric Hospital and Little Flower TB Sanitarium. In 1961, he went to Ss. Simon and Jude Parish in West Jefferson, OH where he remained until 1980. While based at the Oblate community there, he was chaplain at
Columbus State Institute for the Mentally Retarded, Columbus State
Psychiatric Hospital and Columbus State Hospital for the Criminally
Insane. From 1968-1980 he was the Director and Bursar of the Oblate Community in West Jefferson. He retired from state hospital service in 1988 and returned to his family home in Cleveland to care for his father then returned to West Jefferson. In 1998 he returned to his family home, where he remained until his death.
Fr. Karl also served in many capacities in a multitude of organizations on the National level as well as for the states of Indiana and Ohio. He was known as a lecturer, appearing at many chaplain conventions. He
created two films, Behavior Modification and Barriers to Worship, the latter being for a special presentation for the Diocese of Columbus, OH.
He lectured for the American Association on Mental Retardation for some
15 years and had many journals, newsletters and publications in print
including a well-known chaplain's handbook in 1969.
He is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, James A. and Brenda Karl
of Middleburg Heights, OH and a sister Mary Nerad of Lakewood, OH as well
as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four brothers, Francis, Robert, Frederick (Ken) and David.