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Contact Info
Last Address EDGEWATER, FL
Date of Passing Apr 18, 2015
Location of Interment Tallahassee National Cemetery (VA) - Tallahassee, Florida
Karl E. Rehbaum, 68, Edgewater, FL, died Saturday, April 18, 2015 at his home. Mr. Rehbaum was born in Clearwater, FL and moved to the area in 2002 from Crawfordville, FL. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam era retiring as Lieutenant after 21 years of service, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach. He was also a member of VFW Post #4250, New Smyrna Beach, American Legion Post #285, Edgewater, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie #4089, Port Orange and the Rotary Club in Tallahassee, Crawfordville and Edgewater. Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Sharon M.; son, Michael (Johanna) of Rochester, NY; two stepsons, Robert (Debra) Livingston of Jacksonville and Ian (April) Livingston of Tallahassee; one brother, Rick (Shermie) of Crystal River; one sister, Mary Gayle Vance of Deerfield Beach and three step grandchildren. Memorial service will be 1 PM Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 485 Turnbull Bay Road, New Smyrna Beach, with Rev. Roger Prehn, Interim Pastor, officiating. Military honors will be conducted by members of American Legion Post #285 following the service.
Other Comments:
After I retired in 1990 I returned to Tallahassee, Florida and helped my father take care of my ill mother until she passed. I opened Photography by Karl photographic studio and I did well for 10 years. Due to circumstance beyond my control I was forced to close and less than six months later I was diagnosed with colon cancer and spent a year taking care of that! I spent 1.5 years driving 18 wheelers and 1.5 years driving charter buses (45 foot / 57 passengers). I then went to work as the Internet Coordinator for a Saturn Dealership selling cars over the Internet and did that for about three years. For a while I was the Facility Manager for a private High School; organizing their move from the 50 Year Old 60,000 Sq Ft campus to a brand new 95,000 Sq Ft, seven building, facility! What a job that was. I then went back to driving charter buses; until I was diagnosed, again (after 10 years), with colon cancer. I am now going through chemo at this time while taking each day as it comes.
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Best Friends I am unable to change the Training unit number so I'll put it here. I was in Company 158 not 189. My bunk mate(in the upper bunk)was Michael Holt
Best Moment Spud locker Capt. We did about 1,500 1/4 slice of lettuce with dressing for the lunch time meal. Being fairly new to the Navy I didn't understand why the galley Master Chief was so red faced or who the four striper was behind him was. The Chief held a salad up to my face and asked what I saw. I answered "1/4 slice of lettuce with dressing; SIR"! I was told to look closer. I gave the same response, and then saw the dressing move. I'm a city boy, and had no idea what it was. The chief told me it was a slug and to get all the salads off the line. My response after the eye eye sir was "Who is complaining about extra protein?" The base CO behind the Master Chief smiled, patted the chief on the shoulder and walked out laughing. The Donut connection: Every day we would be given one donut with our breakfast. It did not take long for us to start the ?donut countdown?! The last day of boot camp was not only the day we marched in front of family and friends; it was also the day we would breathe fresh air outside of the confines of our drill field and barracks. On day one, I stuffed my donut into an individual serving cereal box and slipped it into my sock. Later I gave the donut to my sister and she forever froze it in a mass of plastic. I still use that donut one as a paper weight.
Worst Moment I was chief news photographer for a CBS affiliate prior to joining the Navy. My recruiter got letters of recommendation from everyone I had done work for. When I went to classification the chief that worked with me told me I was going to be an Aviation Ordinance man because I had been guaranteed an ?A? (basic skills) school. I told him I was going to be a Photographers Mate and he told me the Navy didn?t have a need for photographers as much as they needed aviation Ordinance Mates. He did not want to read all the letters inside my service jacket but I insisted. He gave in, read the letters and told me if I?d sign a waver to an ?A? school I may get the photo rating. I signed and my company commander ribbed me for the rest of boot camp. ?Dummy? orders came in and everyone, except me, knew where they would be going; sea duty or ?A? school. About three weeks before graduation everyone, except me, received their orders and knew the school or ship/station they would be going to. EN1Golightly had so much fun, at my expense, pointing out the stupidity of giving away a school. Days before we graduated Golightly called everyone together in the barrack and called me forward. He read my orders: PHAN (Photographers Mate Airman [E-3]) Karl Rehbaum was to report to the Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico for duty in a Bupers controlled ?B? Billet. While the last 7 or so weeks of boot camp was no fun due to the uncertainty of my orders, I did enjoy hearing my company commander admit I?d not made a bad choice by signing way my ?A? school.
Instructors Company Commander EN1 Henry Golightly
Other Memories While I was being ribbed by the CC my RCPO, James Cearnal, told me not to worry. He had washed out of flight training due to a fist fight and the Navy did not screw him; I'd be just fine.
