Karl Andresen, professor, husband, father and grandfather, skier, canoeist, soccer coach, Norwegian and American, political activist, firebrand, raconteur, died on Jan. 1, 2016, at the age of 91, at his home after celebrating Christmas with his family.

Karl was born in Oslo, Norway, Feb. 3, 1924. He was raised by his single mother, Nanna Helgesen. At the age of five he was sent to an orphanage in Drammen, where he grew up, surviving the WWII German occupation of Norway.

In July 1947, Karl came to the United States as a student at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, from which he graduated. He then enrolled in Graduate School at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his Ph.D. in Political Science. During his student years, he worked all over the U.S. from being a carnie to translating for the United Nations and a year teaching at the University of Hawaii. In 1966, he brought his family to Oxford University in Great Britain for two terms of postdoctoral work.

Karl taught Political Science at UWEC from 1956 until his retirement 32 years later. He often said that after so many years of teaching there were two kinds of people: former students--in whom he took great pride--and others. For various times, Karl served as Faculty Advisor to the Young Dems, as the representative of the faculty teachers’ union on the Faculty Senate, as Department Chairperson, and as Vice-President of the Wisconsin Federation of Teachers. He was a published consultant for major political science textbook publishers.

Karl was an active citizen. For many years he worked for the Democratic Party, including as Eau Claire County Chairman, and attended many state party conventions and two national presidential conventions, including the tumultuous Chicago Convention of 1968, and served as campaign chairperson for several candidates, including for the U.S. Congress. He was an early opponent of the Vietnam War and helped organize peace marches in Eau Claire. Being very interested in keeping them peaceful, he obtained the help and cooperation of the Eau Claire Police Chief. He did not shy from controversy and fought for the ideals of his adopted country.

Karl was also a forty-year member of the Eau Claire Noon Kiwanis Club and for 18 years delivered food weekly for its Meals on Wheels program. An honoured member of the Twin Cities Saga Klubben--a Scandinavian Torsk and Aquavit lunch--where over decades he grew from member to the official toaster: a raconteur, he loved telling stories as much as those listening loved hearing them. And he was in the same poker group for nigh on 60 years.

Karl enjoyed many athletic activities in Norway, including cross-country skiing, ice-skating and soccer. He brought many of these passions with him to the United States. He was a proud Birkie Founder, skiing in the first 30 American Birkebeiner races. He coached the UWEC Soccer Club, twice taking second in the nation. He helped found the Eau Claire Ski Striders and the Eau Claire Canoe Club.

He loved being a family member, as husband to Helen, father to Eric, Robert and William and Father-in-Law to Karen, Susanne and Marianne. He wrote fun and unique songs for each of his seven grandchildren, David, Alex, Carolyn, Kevin, Anna, Maya and Eva.

He raised his family in the Third Ward, watching his kids in various sports at Memorial. After they grew up, he moved with Helen to their beloved house, Mjondarn, on the Eau Claire River, where they canoed, kayaked, walked, skied and entertained their many, many friends. After his wife Helen passed away eight years ago, he moved to Oakwood Hills Retirement Community, enjoying the company there, particularly the meals, at which he always ordered his coffee, “black, like my soul,” though he admitted that wasn't his favourite way to drink it, just that he liked ordering it that way.

Memorials may be sent to the Karl Andresen Scholarship Fund c/o UWEC Foundation for the top UWEC Poli Sci student or the Helen and Karl Andresen Family Endowment for Special Needs Fund c/o Eau Claire Community Foundation to support Reach Inc.'s Helen's House, which offers day activities for adults with disabilities.

A celebration of life for Karl was held Jan. 9, 2016, at Stokes, Prock and Mundt Funeral Chapel, Altoona, Wis.