We first met Karl in the early 90s when he came to Nebraska to do a documentary on the migration of farmers using Mark Manhart’s mother’s family the Steinhauers of Steinhauer, NE. They had migrated here during the mid-1800’s to escape the famine in Switzerland for a better life and now their descendants were leaving the small farms of the Heartland to pursue a better life. Karl and his cameramen stayed with us several times during the film making, and he also used talent from the Grande Olde Players to produce the piece. Besides Mark being on camera with his mother, our sound and light man Sam Parkins was the voice-over for the work. Other members were used as grips.
During his trips to Omaha, his favorite place to spend time was La Buvette’s in the Old Market. I imagine because it most reminded him of Europe with their outdoor seating and the many bottles of wine to accompany simple meals inside. He was also fascinated with Nebraska artist Anne Burkholder’s long horizontal prairie paintings. I suppose because they were such a change from the Alps where he lived and grew up.
Our friendship developed over the years where we were able to visit Karl in Switzerland on three or four occasions and kept in touch annually if not more by mail. Five years ago, we were lucky enough to spend a lovely afternoon having lunch with Karl and Elena, his significant other, and then took a boat ride around Lake Zurich to view all the beautiful homes and businesses built there. Karl was always full of interesting conversation about current events or projects he was working on. His fascination with life was infectious.
As Elena said at his abrupt passing in March, “Karl was attentive, in dialogue, bright-eyed, calm and warm until the end. He was an upright man who preferred questions more than answers, and who despite his experience and knowledge, never stopped marveling and quietly smiling.”