Karl E. Baldauf, 78, of North Sixth Avenue died Friday evening at the emergency room of Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born in Butler, Jan. 3, 1928, he was the son of Lawrence P. Baldauf and Mildred I. Neely.

He had been a lineman for West Penn Power for 17 years and then he worked for the United Telephone Co. for 28 years, retiring in 1990. He also was a bricklayer.

Mr. Baldauf was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

He was a veteran of the Army and had served in Italy.

He was an avid bowler and enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He especially enjoyed going to his hunting camp. He was an avid follower of Butler High School football and basketball.

Surviving are his wife, Thelma M. Houston Baldauf, whom he married Dec. 10, 1948; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Sandy) Erdos of Butler; a son, Terry K. Baldauf and his wife, Pam, of Butler; four grandchildren, Kristen Gardner and her husband, Lt. Jonathan, of Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Tiffany Musko and her husband, Garret, of Butler; and Brent K. and Ryan C. Baldauf, both of Butler; and a great-grandson, Rowan Musko.

He also is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Kathryn Souzer and Jean Baldauf, both of Butler, and Mrs. Charles "Chuck" (Janet) Manuel of Sardinia, Ohio; and a number of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Baldauf.

BALDAUF — Friends of Karl E. Baldauf, who died Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the THOMPSON-MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 124 E. North St. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Peter Nordby, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Butler, PA 16001.Information is also available at www.thompson-miller.com