Karlheinz Finzel Obituary

Karlheinz Finzel was born on April 17, 1923, in Itzehoe, Germany. He died on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2013. He was the only child of Heinrich and Herta (Tarrach) Finzel. When he was six months old, the family moved to Dudelange, Luxembourg, where Karlheinz spent his youth.

His father, a talented musician, taught him to play the piano and organ, so Karlheinz could take his place as church organist. The last piece Karlheinz played in the Dudelange Catholic Church was Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach.

As Karlheinz was a German citizen, he was drafted into the German Air Force at the age of 19 and had the good fortune to be taken POW only two weeks after having been deployed to Africa. He spent the rest of the war in several POW camps, among them Camp Carson, now Fort Carson, Colo. There he taught himself the English language with the aid of a dictionary and the American guards who helped him with the pronunciation.

At the end of the war Karlheinz was sent back to Germany where he and his father owned a successful radio and music store in Landstuhl. But he missed the beautiful Colorado mountains and emigrated to the USA in 1954, settling in Colorado Springs where he lived the rest of his life, except for a five-year period spent in Europe selling life insurance. Upon his return to Colorado, Karlheinz became a real estate developer and built apartment communities in Colorado Springs and Vail. At the time of his death he was still managing the Alikar Gardens Resort Apartments, his pride and joy.

Karlheinz is well known for his love of gardening. His home garden has been admired by many and was featured in the 2013 F.O.X. Garden Tour. He spent many hours outside listening to and watching the birds his flowers and bird feeders attracted. He also loved good music, and his neighbors often enjoyed hearing it amplified in the garden.

Karlheinz is survived by his wife of 25 years, Doris (Tavernier); his children, Claudia Burris of St. Louis, Christine Chiaro of Elbert, Eric Burris of Albuquerque; his beloved granddaughter, Katelyn Swiatek (Stephen); close family friend, Monika Rosa; as well as many relatives and friends; his loyal staff at the Alikar Gardens, most notably Marie Miller, Mary Higgins, Dewain Hodge, Mark Everitt; and his very special doctor, Phyllis V. Clark, MD.

The family wishes to thank Pikes Peak Hospice for their caring support, and Emeritus at Bear Creek where Karlheinz spent the last days of his life.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, at Chapel of Our Savior, #8 4th Street in Colorado Springs.

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the above-mentioned institutions or the Colorado Springs Philharmonic would be welcome.