John Karl Severson

John Karl Severson, 81, of Magnolia passed away peacefully on Sunday February 1, 2026. 

Karl was born on March 10, 1944, at the original family farm in Smyrna to the late Lee D. Severson and Anna Elizabeth Bradley Severson. 

Karl graduated from Smyrna High School in 1962. He was voted Most Athletic and lettered in Track (Javelin), Wrestling and Football. He was a Conference champion in Wrestling in both 1961 and 1962. He was a Captain of the football team, played Guard and was affectionately nicknamed “Bulldog”. Karl was also selected to play in the prestigious Blue Gold Football game and was a member of the F.F.A. He received a football scholarship to play for Wesley College. 

After college, Karl worked at Atlantic Aviation in New Castle before returning to Smyrna High School to be the Carpentry shop teacher there. He then taught Carpentry at Kent Vo-Tech. Karl was a very talented carpenter who built homes with his company Classic Construction. He also spent many years working as a Football Referee.

Karl was a lifelong farmer who enjoyed growing vegetables and raising animals, and he was known to have kennels full of hunting dogs. He thoroughly enjoyed Judging and participating in Hunting Dog Bench Shows and Hunts. He was an avid Coon Hunter and was a founding member of the Coastal Coonhunter’s Club and the Fox Hunters Club. Karl introduced his kids and grandkids to hunting, taking them out to coon hunt many times and helping them learn to show dogs. In later years, Karl could always be found in the kitchen of the club where he enjoyed making food for everyone. He would even travel to the Maryland Hunting Clubs to help out during their events. He loved to make food for people, especially scrapple sandwiches, deviled eggs, lima beans, and strawberry shortcake. Karl was ornery and loved to tease and play jokes on everyone. 

Karl was a lifelong Trapper and still actively held his original Delaware Trapper License #3. He loved being in the marsh to trap muskrat, selling his coon and muskrats hides and attending annual wild game dinners. Karl invented his own bedtime stories for his kids and grandkids. The stars of his stories were Dingaling Muskrat and Ricky Raccoon who inevitably and mistakenly put gun powder instead of baking powder in a cake only to blow up their oven.  He also loved to spend time at Livestock shows and the Delaware State Fair. Karl passed on his love for farming and animals to his kids and grandkids. Through the years they could be found showing cows, horses, rabbits, chickens, goats, and pigs.  He enjoyed attending any auction and rarely missed a day at Spence’s Bazaar. 

Karl was preceded in death by his daughter Suzanne Elizabeth Severson, his sister Laura Diane Severson, and his brothers Lee C. Severson and Vincent M. Severson (Diane). 

Karl leaves behind his daughter Tammy Severson (Keith Schussler) of Magnolia; his son, Daniel Severson of Dupuyer, Montana and his children Katherine Severson, Claudia Severson, Gabrielle Severson, and Isabel Severson; and his daughter Karol Ann Shyers (Keith) of Magnolia, with whom he resided, and their children Johnmichael Smith, Chloe Smith and Caleb Secrist. He is also survived by his brother, Benjamin L. Severson (Beverly) of Clayton and a host of nieces and nephews. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. 

Letters of condolence may be sent to www.pippinfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Karl Severson, please visit our floral store.