Rolling Meadows man found new career with book about WW II
In his early 80s, Rolling Meadows resident Karl Abt found himself involved in the throws of a whole new career: that of a published author.
At the age of 81, Mr. Abt penned his experiences as a native German speaker serving in the Army's Military Intelligence Service in Europe during World War II.
His book, "A Few Who Made a Difference: The World War II Teams of the Military Intelligence Service," contained maps, photos and first hand accounts of his interrogation of German prisoners, and it proved to be quite popular with local audiences.
Mr. Abt made more than two dozen appearances at senior centers, schools, libraries and local veterans groups across the suburbs. He also participated in an authors panel at Roosevelt University in Schaumburg, and at the Buffalo Grove Veterans Day observation, sharing the dais with U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk.
His appearance at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library speaking about the book and answering questions from the audience, was taped and played several times on the library channel on cable access.
Mr. Abt was in the process of writing a second book, this time a novel, when he fell and broke his hip. He died Saturday from heart failure, family members said. The longtime Rolling Meadows resident, most recently of Arlington Heights, was 84.
"We knew how amazing he was, but we had no idea he was involved in so many things, even to the last minute," says his daughter, Christine Haack of Arlington Heights.
Mr. Abt was born in Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany, but immigrated to this country with his parents when he was 4. The family ultimately settled in Oak Park and Mr. Abt attended Oak Park High School before World War II broke out.
In a Daily Herald story published in 2005, Mr. Abt said that the idea to write the book came out of the first of a series of reunions with members of the Military Intelligence Service.
They all arrived armed with photos and their recollections, and when the suggestion came up to write a book, Mr. Abt was tapped, since he had kept a diary throughout.
Another of Mr. Abt's passions was for the Arlington Heights Community Band, in which he played the clarinet. At the time of his passing, he was among a handful of members who had played in the band all 28 years, and he remained one of its biggest proponents.
During the band's 25th anniversary concert in 2005, Mr. Abt selected a medley from the musical "Showboat" to be included in the program.
Now, band members will play for him. They will dedicate their weekly concert at 7:30 p.m. this Wednesday at North School Park in Arlington Heights to his memory.
Besides his daughter, Mr. Abt is survived by his wife of 60 years, Donna, as well his children David Abt of Arlington Heights, and Karen Clarbour of Elkhorn, Wis., and seven grandchildren.
Visitation will take place from 4-7 p.m. today before a 10 a.m. funeral service on Wednesday, both at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 916 E. Central Road in Arlington Heights.