Karl Francis Pfeiffenberger, Jr.

A famous quote from Abraham Lincoln reads – “In the End It Is Not the Years in Your Life That Count, It Is The Life In Your Years”. He certainly had our brother Karl in mind when he penned those words.
Karl was filled with life and love and kindness and dedication to others. He lived life joyfully with that grin and smirk he inherited from our father. He was industrious and hard-working, self-motivated and believed in personal responsibility and accountability. He was and is a man of faith – dedicated to his Church and a true child of God.
He loved his five children – Joby, Karl, Kristin, Josh and Keith. In an interview in 2013 he was asked what he was most addicted to and his response was … “I’m addicted to my kids. I have four sons and a daughter. They are my first and foremost reason why I am here on earth.”
He was equally addicted to the love of his life Lynn. If ever two people were meant to find each other in life it was Karl and Lynn. When they were together they both beamed with love and affection for each other.
Karl was the third of seven children of Karl and Lorna Pfeiffenberger. While Karl was born in Wilkes Barre we all grew up together in Montrose Manor outside of Reading PA.
We had a wonderful childhood as brothers and sisters (the girls outnumbered the boys by a count of 4 to 3). We each have wonderful memories of our years together growing up: visiting our relatives in Pottsville on weekends, summer vacations at Wildwood Crest and Cape May, going out on Halloween together or piling into the Ford Torino station wagon on a Sunday afternoon and just driving around (dad had no particular destination in mind). On as side note – the third seat of that station wagon faced the “back window” and of course we did not wear seat belts back then. Come to think of it - we also played on metal jungle gyms set in cement and slid down aluminum sliding boards – but I digress.
As with all families – many of us moved on to different occupations in different areas like Scranton, Reading, Pittsburgh, and Downingtown. But we were always and will forever be a very close family.
Another portrait of our brother is best captured in the following excerpt from the same “Successful Singles” interview
in 2013:
• Educated at Johnson College, Delaware University, Institute for Organizational Management
• Community Involvement: Chairman of Blind Association. My success is not about my materialistic riches but the
amount of people who I can impact in a positive way.
• Favorite part of Northeast PA: The strong family values and traditions that are passed down and reinforced
from one generation to the next.
• Favorite part of job: I love the interaction and impact we have on the communities who host our business parks
and buildings. Knowing that we provide the means for businesses to locate to Northeast PA and that our family,
friends and neighbors are employed at these businesses is very satisfying.
• Favorite quote: “Never test the depth of water with both feet.”
• Movie you can watch over and over: “The Sound of Music” and any Indiana Jones movie
• Charity of Choice: My heart will always be pulled to helping children who are abused, treated unfairly and just
don’t get the love that a child needs to grow into a caring adult.
• On nightstand: A light and a candle
• Biggest pet peeve: I am very particular in planning and packing for a trip…
• Friends describe you as: Funny, a good person, honest, a good sense of humor, a man of his word.
• Childhood dream job: Owner of a construction company with my name on the door of a pick-up truck.
• Childhood hero: Zorro and the Lone Ranger
• Greatest influence: My grandmother, Mary Buber and my parents, Lorna and Karl Sr.
• Most daring thing you’ve done: Climbed a 40-foot vertical rock cliff wall at the age of 12.
• Goals: To create a business that is unique and that would have an everlasting impact on society.
• Hobbies: I like to work with my hands. I like to look at different and unusual ways to reuse or repurpose ordinary items that would otherwise be discarded.
• I’d consider myself successful if… I can impact people’s lives in a positive way through service to them and to
the community at large.
It is hard to argue with this list – it truly is an accurate portrait of our brother. Each of us and our Mom have hundreds of great shared memories of our life and time with Karl and each of us have our own private and cherished moments and memories of Karl. But it is our brother Mark who was closest by far to Karl. They were inseparable. The proof you ask?.....Karl and Mark were both born on the same date – March 15th – exactly 1
year apart (our parents were quite amazing in their timing). Brothers have a special bond – a bond that is often unspoken but also unbreakable.
Karl had a wonderful sense of humor and warmth about him that drew people to him and all instantly liked him. He was a gentle giant and a gentleman (okay most of the time…). He was well-known, popular, and most of all well respected. He gave back to his community and cared deeply about the people he met and worked throughout NEPA.
Karl’s last few months were extremely difficult. He battled severe and constant pain and struggled for days at a time to simply breathe without tremendous effort. He was a warrior. He fought the good fight and then returned to God to rest.
Our family has been blessed over the years and we count Karl among those great blessings. He is one of a kind – the type of man that is hard to find today – a son, father, brother, uncle, fiancé, friend and associate who was one of a find and who deeply touched all of our lives. Helen Steiner Rice also penned another wonderful quote that speaks to Karl’s life: “Time is not measured by the years you live but by the good deeds you do and the joy that you give.” By that account I figure that Karl jammed around 315 years into his 58 years while with us physically. He will be on our minds, on our lips as we speak of him, and in our hearts forever.

To the best brother God ever created – Peace and Love Karl.
Mom, Matt, Lynne, Mark, Gail, Beth, and Patti.

Karl F. Pfeiffenberger, Jr., 58, of Olyphant, PA died peacefully on Saturday at home surrounded by his family and his loving fiancee Lynn Haas. 

Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, he grew up in Reading PA and resided in Jermyn most of his life. He is the son of Lorna Pfeiffenberger and the late Karl F., Sr. He was a 1980 graduate of Holy Name High School, Reading and Johnson College, Scranton. Karl was self-employed by Prime Building Services and Bluestone Real Estate Mmgt. Group, both in Mayfield. He formerly worked for the Scranton Chamber of Commerce.   

He is survived by five children: Joby, Karl the III, Kristen Hinds wife of Benjamin, Joshua and Keith, two brothers, Matt (wife Maureen), Mark (wife Valerie), four sisters: Lynne Johnston, Gail, Beth and Patrice, many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Mass will be held at Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church, Olyphant by Msgr. Michael J. Delaney on Wednesday. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. A private viewing will be held for the immediate family. 

Mass attendance is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions and will be by invitation only.  If you would like to attend the mass, please contact a family member. Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.  

Memorial contributions may be made to: The Lackawanna Blind Association, 228 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA, 18503 or Holy Cross Parish, 200 Delaware Avenue, Olyphant, PA, 18447. 

To leave a condolence, please visit www.hudak-osheafuneralhome.com.