Air Force vet giving away everything he owns

2015-02-12T09:49:02-05:00

From: Air Force Times

Air Force veteran Bob Karlstrand has given away most of his possessions. Furniture, board games, photographs, letters to his mother, even golf score cards he collected playing 535 courses in his home state of Minnesota.

Finally, the former staff sergeant will give away his home of 38 years in Maple Grove. And his retirement savings — now a $1 million endowment — will be donated to the University of Minnesota's nursing school.

Why? Karlstrand, 65, is battling colon cancer and a terminal lung disease, and he isn't sure he'll make it to his 66th birthday.

"I've had a good life so I can't complain at all," said Karlstrand, who retired from an insurance firm.

An only child, he never married or had children, but used his time to travel and volunteer. He'd like to see his possessions put to good use — especially his house, which he hopes is passed down to another veteran.

"In the end, it's only material things," Karlstrand told TV station KARE 11, whose story on Karlstrand went viral on the Internet.

Karlstrand enlisted right out of high school in 1967 at age 17. He worked as an administrative specialist in the orderly room of the Field Maintenance Squadron at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, before deploying to U-Tapao, Thailand, in July 1969. He spent one year supporting B-52s during missions over Vietnam. He moved briefly to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Montana, before participating in the Air Force's back-to-school program. He was released from the service as a staff sergeant six months early to attend University of Minnesota business school, graduating in 1973.

Karlstrand doesn't have a phone, so he answered questions from Military Times in an email. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Q. Why did you decide to give everything away?

A. I have no family so everything I own would have to go somewhere. Like they say, "You can't take it with you." I was hoping that I could do all of this a little later, but it is not going to work that way. Some things that were owned by my grandparents were given to cousins. Some possessions were given to friends. I tried to find a good home for the things that meant the most to me. The rest — like household goods, furniture — were donated to charities that would be able to reuse them.

Q. How about donating your savings to the hospital?

A. I have received great care at the VA Medical Center from all the nurses, both of my parents were on hospice care, and I did volunteer work at a nursing home. So I have met a lot a nurses over the years, and I feel they are the backbone of our health system and the need will be great with "baby boomers" like myself needing more and more health care.

Q. Will you miss anything you have given away in particular?

A. I have good memories of everything I have given away, and by the time I leave my house I hope for there to be nothing left. Sometimes you see estate sales advertised in the paper with a page full of things to be sold. I feel being able to give my things to the people I want is much, much better.

Q. How might your house end up in the hands of another veteran?

A. I hope it goes to a veteran with a family because it would be a great neighborhood to raise kids. I have signed the papers and given Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity the keys. It is under a life estate deed where I can live in the house until I die and then it would transfer to Habitat. Under our agreement, they have one year to find a qualified veteran for my house. They do the selection and I have no say in the matter but it is possible I can meet the new owners depending on how long I live. If the veteran they select has to move for some reason, Habitat has the right to repurchase the house. Whether or not it goes to a veteran after that I don't know. Habitat will rehab the house and sell it to a veteran at a reduced price.

Q.What similarities or differences do you see in today's service members from when you were in the service?

A. I haven't given this question much thought although I'm sure many things have changed, much also remains the same. It seems like the conflicts we are now in have no end, which I'm sure has an effect on morale on all members of the services.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/02/11/bob-karlstrand-minnesota-vet-giving-away-possessions-home/23231841/

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 9:51 AM

2015-02-12T09:51:12-05:00

He has every right to do as he wishes with his possessions. If he wishes to ensure they go to worthwhile people or charities then who are we to say otherwise. It's sad he's hurting but as he said he lived a good life.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 12 at 2015 10:22 AM

2015-02-12T10:22:30-05:00

WOW! Amazing story and a Great Man for sure!

May he go peacefully and rest well.

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Oct 4 at 2015 2:48 PM

2015-10-04T14:48:22-04:00

My thoughts and prayers are with this gentleman.

Response by SPC Donald Wright made Oct 29 at 2015 11:17 PM

2015-10-29T23:17:02-04:00

Donate the house to a group that helps struggling veterans.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 10:31 AM

2015-10-30T10:31:43-04:00

That's what I'd do if I were in his shoes. God speed, Bob.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2015 11:26 AM

2015-10-30T11:26:37-04:00

Truly inspiring! Even facing a terminal illness he thinks of others! Godspeed brother...

Response by SrA Ronald Moore made Nov 23 at 2019 1:05 PM

2019-11-23T13:05:20-05:00

You fight a good fight sir !A salute to you