Tim Karrels Remembered: 'You have Touched the Lives of Many,' Friend Says

Funeral arrangements have been set for Saukville resident Tim Karrels, whose body was found in his apartment on Sunday night.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the in Port Washington, with visitation lasting from 4 to 7 p.m.

The State Fire Marshall concluded Monday that . Saukville Fire Chief Gilly Schultz said Karrels started the fire using gasoline.

• Related: Read the obituary.

Karrels was a Saukville firefighter, a DJ and owner of in Port Washington.

News of his death shocked and saddened countless friends and family members, who remember Karrels as a happy-go-lucky, funny guy with a positive approach to life.

Sara Grover, executive director of Port Washington Main Street Program, remembered Karrels from his business in Port — and the extra amount of success and attention he gave his business when he first moved into his space downtown.

"(He was) just a very happy, interacting person in general," Grover said. "I think that he had a really good business philosophy … times are tough and I don’t know if he fell for that, he certainly did give it a try."

What will happen with the business now is unknown, but Grover said the group is willing to work with the family to either sell the business to a new owner, or hold a sale to sell its stock.

Kevin Gwidt, a former Port Washington firefighter, was Karrels' fire instructor at Lakeshore Technical College and also knew him from time in the field. Karrels had told Gwidt that he wanted, more than anything, to be a firefighter, Gwidt said.

"A true fireman has to have heart and has to have courage," Gwidt said. "Tim had both more than others. I lost touch with him. I have been off the department since 2007. I am sure that when the next alarm sounds, Tim will be riding along."

Verna-Lou Moschella bartends at in Saukville, a place that Karrels often went; Moschella said she met Karrels there about 5 years ago, and they had been friends ever since.

J's is actually the last place Karrels went on Sunday night. He hit up J's for a burger and a soda, like he did almost every week, bar owner Jody Schwanz said. From watching security camera footage and talking to the bartender who was there, Schwanz said he seemed to be in the same good mood he always sported, cheerily conversing at the bar.

"He honestly always put others first, I worked at a fundraiser he held at Grady Park where the proceeds were given to Children's Hospital about 3 or 4 years ago. I think that really goes to show what kind of person Tim was," Moschella said. "He will be missed beyond words."

Social media becomes highway to heaven

Karrels' Facebook page has been covered in comments from friends and family since his death, saddened by the fact that he has left the world so soon.

"To Tim. Over the past time since learning of your death your FB page has become a place for the people you have touched to come forward. The way things look you have touched the lives of many, including my own," one friend wrote. "I don't think you realized just how many people were glad to call you a friend. We share our past memories of you and of the good times we all had. By the looks of things, the fun times will go on — but without you with us it's going to feel like something is missing."

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Fast signup here.

"Tim, you were an amazing person! I was one of the lucky ones to have known you, you will always be thought of and deeply missed!" another friend wrote.

This is just a small sample of the posts that now clutter Karrels' Facebook page, and a note left on his business' window in downtown Port gets to the point of what each individual is trying to say in their social media messages. 

"You will be missed, brother! We <3 you, forever!" the sign read.