MILFORD - Karl J. Thomas, 78, of Milford, formerly of Long Island, N.Y., and Germany, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at Milford Memorial Hospital, Bayhealth Medical Center. Mr. Thomas was born in Andernach, Germany, the son of the late Josef and Rosa K. (Hillesheim) Thomas. He immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1951. He entered the United States Army serving in both Korea and Germany. In 1970, Mr. Thomas moved to Milford. He worked as a maintenance supervisor at General Foods in Dover, taking an early retirement to work as a tool and dye maker for New Process Fibre and Penn Fibre in Greenwood. He was a member of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council and sang in the choir. Karl was famous for baking his raisin bread for the Milford Memorial Hospital Fair and the Oktoberfest. Karl and his wife Renate were the founders of St. John's Oktoberfest Celebration that has become an annual tradition in Milford. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. Karl was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Rosa Beyer and Annemarie Lang. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Renate K. Thomas; three daughters, Cynthia Thomas, Sylvia Smith and her husband Michael and Diane Renzi and her husband Rico; one son, Karl J. Thomas, Jr. and his wife Stacy; and grandchildren, Michaela Smith, Race Smith, Nicolas Renzi, Michael Renzi, Madeline Thomas, and Karl J. Thomas III. A Memorial Mass was Celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 26, 2011, at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church, 506 Seabury Avenue, Milford. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. John's Parish Hall, 506 Seabury Avenue, Milford, DE 19963. Arr. by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.