Karlheinz Josef Lough

Karlheinz Josef Lough, of Davenport, IA., early in the morning of December 18th, 2024, came upon a hidden exit in the current dungeon level of the video game he’d been playing and departed this realm to begin finding his way on a new adventure. Though it should be added he’s most likely done less actual adventuring at this point and more investigating something interesting he’s encountered after getting to a decent inn with a pop machine and Wi-Fi.

Karl was born in Germany and was always very proud of his heritage. He was raised by his grandmother in the small, picturesque Bavarian town of Miltenberg until age seven. After his mother married an American serviceman, Karl moved with her to the States, eventually settling in the Quad Cities area. Karl became an American citizen in his early teens and went on to serve his new country in the Navy. 

The most significant event of his life was probably the day Karl met his wife, Jennifer Lough (formerly Berry). Jennifer truly saw him, encouraged him and showed love in a way no one had ever done for him before. They were married on February 6, 1982 and were together for 42 years. Karl was a proud father to his two daughters Samantha Lough and Allison Meyer (formerly Lough, married to Jeremy Meyer). He was also a quietly doting cat-papa to Link, his little princess Fancy, and Luna.

He never tried to draw attention to it, but Karl was incredibly intelligent and always seemed to know about any topic that came up in a conversation. He had a wonderfully abundant number of talents and interests. He was a fantastic artist, especially in painting, from the art on the walls to detailed miniatures. Karl also constructed intricate, realistic settings for model trains with electrical circuits he wired himself. These model layouts were their own little worlds, with buildings, trees, people and even outhouses. He was a tech nerd who built his own computers and had an amazing aptitude for anything mechanical. He was handy with cars. He collected stamps and coins. He loved video games and books and was deeply appreciative of music. He was fascinated by space and physics. Karl may have lived a quiet life on the outside, but his inner world was brimming with color and wonder.

There are so many things we will miss, from the certain soft lilt to his voice when he called us ‘honey’ to his ability to make the perfect cup of coffee to being drawn into his latest interest or project. He loved us – Jennifer, Samantha and Allison – his wife and his girls, always at the center of his world. That love, along with the beauty of the curiosity and entire worlds of imagination he held in his heart and mind, are the legacy we will carry forward for him until we can see him again.

Karl’s funeral will be held privately for family only on the weekend after Christmas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support his family at https://gofund.me/b50101c4.

Alright, Daddy, be at peace. Go adventure and roam and make beautiful things. We love you.

“He was part of my dream, of course -- but then I was part of his dream, too.” ― Lewis Carroll