Karl Dale Stewart July 26, 1935 - February 3, 2022

Karl Dale Stewart passed away at home in Corona, California, on February 3, 2022, at the age of 86 years old.  He was born on July 26, 1935, in the home on the family’s farm in Benjamin, Utah.  He was the youngest of seven children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell Lee Stewart and Faye Kay Stewart; his brothers: Rex Kay, Wendell Bruce, Maurice Kay, Paul Franklin; and his sisters: Leah Jean Stewart Walker, Elaine Stewart Bradford; and his son, Daryl Jay.

He spent his childhood and young adult life in his hometown, Benjamin, where he learned to hunt, fish and when necessary, evade the fish and game warden.  Karl was a skilled fisherman and loved nothing better than taking his rod and reel and spend the day casting his line at his favorite fishing hole, Sixth Water, or going out on the many other lakes and streams near his home.  His early years instilled in him a lifetime love of the great outdoors.  Karl attended Spanish Fork High School and while there nurtured another lifetime passion for team sports, including playing for the varsity basketball team.

After high school, Karl married and started a family.  At the same time, he attended Brigham Young University where he earned his business degree.  Throughout his life he loved watching and cheering on BYU sports teams.  Upon graduation in 1960 he moved with his growing family to California and began his career in the oil industry.  Because of his employment he moved several times both out of the country and within the United States.  He eventually settled down permanently in Corona, California.  It was here that he formed a partnership with extended family members and together they bought and operated Foothill Pump and Engineering.

Karl came from a large family and throughout their lifetimes regardless of distance they all remained close.  The brothers and sisters truly loved and cared about each other and genuinely loved to spend time together.  Getting together for holidays, vacations, barbecues, playing ball, or simply sitting around a table playing a round of SCAT.  Throughout the remainder of his life, that amazing capacity of love and caring he had for the Stewart family transferred over to all his extended family and friends.  Everyone loved being around him and he made friends wherever he went.  If you were a friend or even a friend of a friend, you were treated like family.  Karl also had a soft spot for helping people that were in need.  He didn’t wait to be asked, if there was something he could do to help he just did it.

Life was one big adventure for Karl.  He never let the grass grow under his feet.  He loved to travel, explore new places, attend sporting events, and go to the theater.  When he moved to Corona, he bought a boat and many family trips ensued.  He enjoyed going to Lake Mead with as many family and friends as he could muster.  Probably his favorite place on earth was Lake Powell.  Nothing compared to the annual summer houseboat vacation, where hiking, fishing, water skiing, jumping off cliffs and even making homemade ice cream was in store.  Then at the end of the day going up on top of the houseboat and watching the sun go down with a glass of champagne in hand.

Later in life, Karl remarried and is survived by his wife of 13 years, jo Kathleen Thirloway; his sons: Kent Dale, Gary Hugh, James Andrew, Alistair Lee, Benjamin Jay’ and his daughter, Brenda Stewart Reynolds; and eight grandchildren.  Karl was so very loved and cherished by all his family and friends and we will always hold him closely in our hearts and thoughts.

A visitation for family and friends of Karl will be Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 187 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660.  Following the visitation, funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral  home.  Interment will be at the Benjamin (Utah County) Cemetery.

A livestream of the service will be available below: