William “Bill” Karlson of Seaford passed away after a brief illness on April 20, 2026, at his home while holding his beloved wife’s hand.
Bill was born on May 11, 1946, in Kingston Upon Hull, England to Bertel and Katie (Butler) Karlson, who preceded him in death. He was a war baby who returned to New York with his family as a child. He grew up in Seaford, NY, before joining the Navy. After serving his country, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, Bill worked as a Defense Contractor for the Navy until his retirement in 2017.
Bill led a varied life, and enjoyed spending time at the beach, a hobby he had enjoyed since childhood. Once he was old enough, he worked as a beach lifeguard on Jones Beach, Long Island. An avid scuba diver and diving instructor, Bill’s love for the water took him around the world to dive in many exotic locations. He was not sad to say his last dive was with the Great White sharks in South Africa. He completed 10 marathons, the JFK 50 Miler, and many half marathons. A hobby he credits for his two artificial knees.
Bill’s love for travel began in the Navy, and after his retirement, he took advantage of his free time to travel extensively, including trips through Asia, Europe, Russia, Africa, South and Central America, and the Caribbean.
Bill leaves behind his loving wife, Lisa; his son, William and daughter-in-law, Serena; grandchildren, Sophie and Liam; and his sisters, Katherine (Ed) and Julia (Guy). In addition, he is survived by his brother-in-law, Bruce Ringler (Lani); nieces, Jennifer and Emily; and his long-time best friend, Steve Wilner, as well as numerous other relatives and good friends. He will be missed by many people but not forgotten.
Per Bill’s wishes, there will not be a memorial service. He requests that anyone who wants to remember him take a moment to toast his memory and enjoy their own life to the fullest.