Obituary of Karl F. Jorss

Karl F. Jorss, Jr. of Gaithersburg, MD passed away on July 7, 2018. Born August 4, 1927 to Adalinda E. Jorss and Karl F. Jorss in Washington, DC, Karl attended St. Alban's School and Montgomery Junior College and furthered his studies in England while employed by Crittall Manufacturing Ltd. After returning to the U.S., he joined A. F. Jorss Iron Works full-time as the third generation. During the Korean War he served in the Ordinance Corps as a First Lieutenant at Frankford Arsenal in Pennsylvania and in Germany. In 1953 Karl married the love of his life, Louisa Perry Durant of Washington, DC. For the next 57 years they resided in the same house in Bethesda, MD before moving to Asbury Methodist Village. Karl was very active in the Washington Kiwanis Club's Boys and Girls Committee, the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (which honored him with the Fellowship and Life Membership Award for his contributions), the National Association of Ornamental Metal Manufacturers, the Washington Metropolitan Board of Trade, the Washington Building Congress, and the Washington Ironworkers Employer Association. During its 95 years, A. F. Jorss Iron Works fostered nine associated companies that operated nationally and internationally. Karl was proud of the recognition and awards Jorss Iron Works received for the architectural metal it fabricated and erected in and around Washington DC and elsewhere, including the Washington National Cathedral, the White House, the National Geographic Society, the British Embassy, the German Chancery, the Saudi Arabian Embassy, and the JFK gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery, to name a few. In 1983, A. F. Jorss Iron Works closed its doors after 95 years. Karl remained active until 1995, serving his industry as a consultant and arbitrator. In addition to his wife of 65 years, Perry, Karl is survived by three sons, Karl III, Perry Scott, and Christopher, daughters-in-law Pamela, Ann, and Meredith, 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 11:00 am at St. Alban's Church in Washington, DC, followed by interment at Rock Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to St. Alban's Church or St. Alban's School.