We have learned that cancer is insidious and we believe that the time will come when the Karl’s of this world will find a cure in the fight against this beast. There should be a law that no child can go before a parent because that isn’t the natural order of things.

We want to thank everyone for their steadfast prayers, many good thoughts, and constant well wishes. We still don’t understand it, but we do believe that God has a plan and one day we will know the reason for all of this. We also know that Karl was a positive influence and left this world a better place than what he found. He was a giver, not a taker. We are grateful for 28 years with our son and consider him a true blessing. The cancer took his life, but it did not, and could not, take his indomitable spirit.

May God bless and keep everyone,

Bill and Carole Jean Stockhausen

Age 28, recently of Brooklyn, NY, formerly of Northville, Michigan, after bravely and courageously fighting melanoma cancer for two years, died September 13, 2009.

He was born on April 8, 1981 in Livonia to William Francis and Carole Jean (Walker) Stockhausen.

In 1999 he graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School, in 2002 he graduated with honors from Clemson University with a BS in Biochemistry, and in 2008 he received his Doctorate of Medicine from the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine.  He was to start a prestigious Emergency Medicine residency at Einstein/Jacobi Medical Hospital in the Bronx.

He loved photography, rock climbing, and had a passion for analytical games like chess and poker.  He was an Eagle Scout.  He rode round-trip coast to coast on a motorcycle, and traveled across Mexico, Cuba, Europe and India.

As a humanitarian, twice he was part of a surgical medical team in Honduras and also worked for three months in La Parroqia, Guatemala assisting in free health care clinics for the indigenous community.  At AUC he was president of the American Medical Student Association, and with other students started a diabetes screening clinic on the island of St. Maarten.  He was on a Student Judiciary Committee, was an Anatomy Teacher’s Assistant and an Orientation Advisor.  He was a member of the Alpha Omega Phi Honor Society.

He did a clinical rotation in infectious diseases in Mumbai, India, a surgical and Ob/Gyn rotation and a rotation in an HIV Outpatient Health Clinic in London, England, and several rotations in New York City.  He thrived on learning about international health systems, and more than anything he was committed to revolutionizing global health care.  He was a man of his word, made no excuses for the way he lived life, and inspired others to do the same.

He wanted to spend his life in the service of healing others.  It was his desire that his corneas be donated to The Midwest Eye Bank, which will give sight to two people.  His body was donated to the Anatomy Department at the University of Michigan Medical School.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his fiancée Rhea Rahman of Brooklyn, NY; his sisters, Juliet (Todd) Culp and Clara of Northville, MI, Rachel of New Britain, CT, his brother Luke “Stocky” of Seattle, WA; his niece Violet Culp and countless friends.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 19, at Our Lady Of Victory Catholic Church (133 Orchard Dr., Northville) with visitation at 11 am, memorial Mass and funeral service at 12:30 pm and luncheon following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution to the Dr. Karl Stockhausen Fund c/o William Stockhausen, 218 W. Dunlap St, Northville,  MI  48167.

Karls Eyes

Location:

Our Lady Of Victory Catholic Church

With visitation at 11 am, memorial Mass and funeral service at 12:30 pm and luncheon following.