Karl Dean Aldinger, MD, 82

Karl Dean Aldinger, MD, died on January 6, 2024 at the age of 82, peacefully in his own home, surrounded by family.

Born in Belmond, Iowa on March 28, 1941, to Pearl Janet Aldinger (née Bohning) and Charles H. Aldinger. Karl was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his sister, Audrey Aldinger Wright.

Karl went into pre-med at the University of Iowa and then graduated with an MD and specialized in ophthalmology. He was drafted into the Navy in 1967. During his service, he spent his time providing medical services to the SEAL Teams, finishing his navy career as a lieutenant commander in 1969.

In 1969, Karl started ophthalmology training in Dallas, Texas. Once finished with his training, he accepted a position at the Rice Clinic in Stevens Point. He practiced surgical ophthalmology from that time up to his retirement in 2003.

In November 1977, he married the love of his life, Karen Ann Esler Stevens. Karl has five children, Mitchell (Sioux Falls, SD), Andy (Lawrence, KS) and Ames (Lawrence, KS), Berit (Madison, Wis.), and Paul (Middleton, Wis.), and four grandchildren, Porter and Jakob (Ames), Aiden (Mitchell), and Eleanor (Berit).

Upon retirement Karl audited classes at UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health and took numerous LIFE classes at UW-Stevens Point. Throughout his life he had many hobbies, such as scuba diving, windsurfing, downhill and cross country skiing, tennis, ice skating, and hiking. He also enjoyed stone polishing, woodworking, cooking, traveling, dentrology (the study of wood), and magic. He was Karen’s handyman as he was able to tackle almost any project or problem in the house. Photography was also a passion and he spent many hours developing photos in his darkroom. We realized there weren’t many photos of him as he was always behind the camera.

Karl was kind, playful, humble, adventurous, giving, thoughtful, and a lifelong learner. Friends and family also shared he had an engaging smile and a laugh that would bring a smile to others. Notorious for his love of knowledge, Karl was known as “Mr. Consumer Report,” and was consulted during the annual world’s largest trivia contest in Stevens Point before the pre-digital era.

Karl and Karen spent Winter months in Montserrat in the West Indies where he set up an ophthalmology clinic. While on the island, Karl would often be called into the clinic to see patients as they did not have an ophthalmologist on island.

The family requests that those who wish to honor him consider making a donation in his name to Operation Bootstrap or Boys and Girls Club.

A celebration of life for Karl will be held from 2-4:45 p.m. at Shuda Funeral Chapel on Saturday, January 20, 2024. The family will conclude the gathering time with a sharing of memories of Karl, beginning at 4:45.

Shuda Funeral Chapel in Stevens Point is honored to be assisting the family.