Karl Holzapfel lived a life full of laughter, friendship, and love. Whether at the hockey arena, the soccer field, at a sports memorabilia event, or surrounded by friends, Karl had a remarkable way of bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome, valued, and part of something special.

He was a devoted husband to Bridgette and an incredibly proud father to Adam and Adrienne (Christian). Karl’s greatest joy was his family. He also went from being a reluctant to a loving fur father to Beary, Jaxson, Connor, and many other cherished family pets.

Karl is predeceased by his loving mother, Clementine, and his grandparents, Mary and Leonard Geurts, affectionately known as Oma and Opa. He will be deeply missed by his mother-in-law Ana Grgic; brother-in-law Joe Grgic, with whom he shared a passion for music and record collecting; and sister-in-law Marie Grgic, who supported him through his battle with cancer, as a breast cancer survivor and advocate. He will also be fondly remembered by his nieces and nephew, Jasmine, Ivy, Aaliyah, and Dino, as well as his great-niece Athena.

Karl embraced life fully. In his youth, he was an exceptional athlete and was named Athlete of the Year at Cawthra Park High School. He loved playing soccer for Zagreb Croatia, where, as the club’s first foreign player, he was warmly welcomed and affectionately nicknamed “Schvabo.” Throughout his life, Karl remained passionate about sports—coaching, playing, cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Blue Jays, collecting sports memorabilia, travelling, and, most importantly, spending time with family and friends.

Karl valued his friendships deeply. He stayed closely connected with his dear group of friends—Andy Perry, Derrick Payne, Don Thomson, Jeff Thompson, Rob Boyko, and many others—through daily messages, shared laughs, and regular breakfasts at Sunset Grill. He was someone who always showed up and made time for the people he cared about.

After a courageous five-year battle with pancreatic cancer, Karl passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, surrounded by those who loved him most.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Karl’s life at Turner & Porter (2180 Hurontario Street) on Wednesday, April 1, from 4-8 pm with a funeral service on Thursday, April 2, at 3 pm followed by a reception.

Karl will be deeply missed and forever loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Karl’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society.