Karl "Käru" Staenz

Karl was born in Aarau, Switzerland to Karl and Elise Staenz and spent his childhood with his beloved cousins Hans-Peter (Susan), Heinz (Pia), Jorg (Mariangela), Claudia (Danny), and Rolf (Leonie).

Karl married Susann (nee Gassner) 48 years ago. They had their son Eric in 1984. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Ottawa, Canada where Karl brought his expertise to the Canadian government to start up a highly specialized remote sensing program.

Their daughter Vanessa was born in Ottawa in 1989 and the family enjoyed living in the countryside of Constance Bay.

He continued travelling back to Switzerland to listen to doctoral dissertations and do research.

Karl and Susann relocated to Lethbridge, Alberta in 2006 where he became the Director or Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre at the University of Lethbridge. He was a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Geography at the University of Lethbridge supervising many undergraduate and PhD students. 

His research was focused in the broad area of applications of hyperspectral remote sensing and quantitative remote sensing algorithm research and development.

When he retired a few years ago, he was finally able to devote all his time to pursue his lifelong model train hobby. He had dedicated his basement to building a train track spanning two rooms, a life like town and mountainside from scratch. This included meticulous details that he lovingly painted under a magnifying glass on buildings representing all of his family members.

He will be deeply missed by his wife Susann, son Eric, daughter in-law Carrie, grandson Luca, daughter Vanessa and son in law Randon and his cherished cat, Fritzli.

At Karl’s request, no funeral service will be held. Cremation entrusted to Cornerstone Funeral Home.