Karl J. Milikowski

Karl Milikowski, a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, and cherished member of the Stafford community passed away peacefully at home, on Friday January 17th due to natural causes related to a heart condition. He was 61 years old. Karl’s life was a testament to kindness, dedication and love. Born on January 7th in Hartford, CT, he grew up with a strong sense of family and community that shaped his life and relationships. Karl graduated from Stafford High School in 1982 and moved on to the DuPage Horticultural School in Glyn Ellen, Illinois in 1983. He returned to Stafford to manage his family’s retail garden center, Chestnut Hill Farm, for many years. He also served as VP at the W.H. Milikowski Greenhouse Supply Company and worked at several local garden centers. Karl married the love of his life, Kim, and together they built Foster Hill Farm – a place that reflected their shared love for the land, their animals and their community. The farm, with its donkeys, greenhouses, and open doors, became a beloved space where laughter, love and memories were cultivated alongside the plants and animals they cared for so deeply. Karl was a devoted father to his beloved daughter, Emma, who was the light of his life and a great source of pride. To his daughter and her husband Dennis Bassett; his siblings and their spouses Krista Silva and her husband Tony, Michael Milikowski and his wife JoAnn, and Meg (Mary) Ferris and her husband Tony; and late parents William and Jeanne (Rice) Milikowski, he was a source of strength, love and endless encouragement. Karl was not only a family man but also a pillar of Stafford, CT. He was a founding member of the Stafford Agricultural Commission and served as a board member for the Tolland County Farm Bureau. He and Kim also launched the initial Stafford Farm Day in 2010, now one of Stafford’s largest annual events. Whether through his involvement in local events, the farm, or his willingness to lend a helping hand, he touched countless lives with his generosity and compassion. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his exceptional work ethic, his boundless love for family and his ability to bring people together. Karl’s passing leaves a void that can never be filled, but his legacy will continue to live on through the many lives he touched. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Following the wake, all are welcome to honor his life from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Bush Meadow Farm, 738 Buckley Highway, Union, CT. Personal eulogies may be offered from 2-3 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284 or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th St., Suite 609, New York, NY 10036. To leave a message of sympathy for his family, or for directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com

Karl J. Milikowski

January 17, 2025