Karl R. Mesloh

KARL R. MESLOH, age 97,
of New Bremen, died on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 8:20 A.M. at the Elmwood Assisted Living of New Bremen. He was born on March 29, 1929 in Franklin, New Jersey, the son of the late Karl and Ethel M. (Anderson) Mesloh. On July 14, 1951, he married Ethel A. Anderson at the Heinz Chapel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and together they shared 71 wonderful years before her death on April 15, 2023. Surviving are his children: Karl (Amy) Mesloh of New Bremen, Frederick (Mary) Mesloh of Hemphill, Texas, Stephanie (LeRoy) Holleman of Noblesville, Indiana, and Nick (Melissa) Mesloh of Spring, Texas. Also left to cherish his memory are his eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. Along with his wife and parents, Karl was preceded in death by a daughter in-law Sheryl Mesloh, and his siblings: Janine Louise Mesloh, Marion (Ralph) Ferry, and Ray (Marian) Mesloh.

With the Mesloh lineage being a founding family of New Bremen, Karl found it natural to be a devoted member of the New Bremen community, having a passion for its history, and rooting himself in local craftsmanship and service. He and his wife, Ethel, met during college in Pittsburgh through the Lutheran Student Association and moved to New Bremen after his retirement in 1984 from PPG, after 34 years of service as a plant manager in the chemical division in several different states and Puerto Rico. He and Ethel became very active members of St. Paul United Church of Christ, where Karl was a Sunday School teacher, Counsil President, and contributed to stained glass projects, teaching others the art over the years. As a historian, he served as trustee, president, and secretary of the New Bremen Historic Association and conducted extensive research on local German surnames, which were published in the Towpath in 1993. Karl was also a volunteer guide during Bremenfest, sharing his knowledge of the town with visitors. He was a charter member and the first club secretary of the New Bremen-New Knoxville Rotary Club, and remained active with the club for many years. He was a proud member of the 1787 Society at the University of Pittsburgh and had been a Free Mason. Karl had a lifelong love of trains, once dreaming of becoming a locomotive engineer, had a passion for making wine, and was an avid squirrel hunter. He also enjoyed birdwatching, with a special fondness for the golden finch. In the words of Karl's favorite phrase, TALLY HO!

Funeral Services to honor Karl's life will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen with Rev. David Voll officiating. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Calling Hours will be held on Monday, April 13, 2026 from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and again on Tuesday morning, at the church, one hour prior to the services. Memorial contributions in Memory of Karl can be made to Joint Township District Memorial Hospital Foundation (200 St. Clair Street, St. Marys, Ohio 45885). Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.